WARSAW — The office of Poland’s president said Tuesday that he has signed into law one of three contested bills that critics say limit the independence of the judiciary.

President Andrzej Duda announced Monday after days of protests that he would veto two of the bills. His office said early Tuesday that he signed the third one, despite demonstrations the previous evening in several cities urging him to block that one, too.

The law allows the justice minister, who is also the prosecutor general, to name the heads of all lower courts.

Critics say it is unconstitutional, but welcomed his rejection of the other bills. One of them would have allowed the justice minister to immediately fire all Supreme Court justices and choose their replacements.

The ruling party says not all judges meet professional and ethical standards.

The European Union had expressed concern over the package of legislation and threatened to act soon to sanction Poland.

associated press