WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's president signed into law an amendment to how its constitutional court makes rulings, a move critics say will erode checks and balances in government powers and paralyse the highest judicial body.
It was the latest development in a constitutional crisis which began when the conservative nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, winner of October's parliamentary election, appointed five judges to the 15-member court.
The government said the step was necessary for the court to properly reflect the results of the election.
The appointments were labelled illegal by opposition leaders, triggered major public protests, increased investor jitters and drew accusations from rights activists that the ruling majority was undermining democratic checks and balances.
The amendment, drafted and passed by the PiS and now signed into law by President Andrzej Duda, a close ally of the party, requires the 15-member court to adopt most of its rulings by a two-thirds margin with at least 13 judges present.
This could force the head of the constitutional court to include the five judges chosen by the PiS-controlled parliament in the court's composition or leave the court unable to pass rulings.
(Reporting by Wiktor Szary; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
