European rights body checks on Poland's rule of law, again

The Venice Commission vice-president Kaarlo Tuori speaks during a press conference after a meeting at the Polish Senate in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Venice Commission vice-president Kaarlo Tuori ,left, Head of Constitutional Justice Division in Venice Commision Schnutz Rudolf Duerr ,center, and US rapporteur Sarah Cleveland ,right, leave after a meeting at the Polish Senate in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (The Associated Press)

Venice Commission vice-president Kaarlo Tuori ,center, Head of Constitutional Justice Division in Venice Commision Schnutz Rudolf Duerr , left, and US rapporteur Sarah Cleveland , right, leave after a meeting at the Polish Senate in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (The Associated Press)

WARSAW, Poland – Members of a European law and human rights commission are checking for the second time this year on the state of Poland's rule of law after the conservative government rejected the body's previous advice.

Envoys from the Venice Commission, a watchdog body of constitutional law experts met Monday with the head of Poland's Supreme Court head. Commissioners also were to meet government representatives during two days of meetings.

A report on its findings is expected next month.

In March, the commission said that steps taken by the government to influence and weaken the country's Constitutional Tribunal threatened democracy. The government disregarded the body's recommendations as non-binding opinion.

The defiant head of Poland's ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has said the latest visit is of "no importance."