POLAND'S NEW CONSTITUTION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21082, 6 February 1934, Page 10

POLAND'S NEW CONSTITUTION

PARLIAMENT'S POWER GONE MARSHAL PILSUDSKI'S PLANS WARSAW, December 20. Of all the dictators of Europe, Marshal Pilsudski has received the best Christmas gift in the shape of a new Polish constitution to his liking, paving for him the road towards the Presidential office, which he has twice declined. The new constitution, which has just been passed by the Government party, will transfer tire sovereignty of Parliament to the President and the executive, investing them with supreme and uncontrolled power in the state. The President can appoint and dismiss his Cabinet and dissolve Parliament without giving reasons. He appoints all supreme officials and judges. Unlike other holders of the office, the Pplish President can nominate his successor, and he has the right to veto laws, which he did not previously possess. Very large powers of the executive are transferred from the responsibility of Parliament and of the Cabinet to the President alone. Parliament is deprived of the power of passing a vote of no confidence, and is unable to control the Government. The Army Chief. Military elements are predominant under the new constitution. For the first time in modern constitui tional history the army chief is j given a prominent voice in the I nomination of the candidates for the | Presidential office. The inspector j of the army has the same right as the Premier, and, like the Premier, is responsible only to the President, not to Parliament.

Unlike the previous constitution, the new one contains ah ominous article providing for war emergency and slating that in case of war the Presidential elections will be postponed till peace is declared. Ir. war lime the President may act without the advice of Parliament and may grant unlimited powers to the army chief. The constitution is also framed to enable Marshal Pilsudski to accept the office of President. He has approved the new constitution, and should he still not accept the office of President, the new constitution gives him more direct legal powers ns Inspector-General of "the Polish Army, ah office he holds how together ivith : thal of War Minislrr.