Significant protests underline Polish concern over their government’s controversial policies related to the judiciary and eligibility for political office. The U.S. and Poland’s other democratic allies should privately make clear their disagreement with these policies.

Still, the U.S. should be cautious about overdoing its criticism. Poland unquestionably remains a democracy. Its government freely won a significant majority in the last parliamentary elections in 2019 (the next election takes place later this year). Proportionate concern is the appropriate response.