Poland Needs an Independent Central Bank

In the two months since it won an absolute majority in parliament, Poland's Law and Justice Party has seemed more intent on achieving something close to absolute power.

The new government annulled its predecessor's appointments to the country's highest court, put in five of its own appointees, and then passed a law to curb the court's powers. Complaining of media bias, it fired the management of Poland's state broadcasters, weakened the media regulator, and named a former party campaign manager to run public television. Another Law and Justice (PiS) stalwart has been tapped to lead the intelligence services. These and other moves have been strongly criticized in Europe, prompting comparisons with Hungary's authoritarian rulers. In Poland, they have sparked protests and eroded public support for the party.