Thousands Protest Against Judiciary Reform In Poland

Several thousand people gathered in front of Warsaw's presidential palace and parliament in a peaceful protest against controversial judicial reforms late on July 18. Legislation passed by the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party cuts the current Supreme Court judges' terms in office and gives parliament the power to choose 15 of the court's 25 members. Protesters chanted slogans against the conservative PiS and its chairman, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is seen as the country's de-facto leader. (Reuters)