Poland approved the controversial law to tighten controls over judges, despite warnings that it would probably lead to “an intervention by institutions of the European Union for infringement of EU treaties”.

The legislation passed in the lower house of parliament on 20 December in Warsaw. 233 lawmakers voted in favor and 205 against it.

The new rules would allow judges to be fired if they question the government’s judicial reforms. Poland’s Supreme Court warned that the rules are forcing j...