Poland’s ruling coalition is set to change its approach to filling vacant seats on the Constitutional Tribunal, with a new selection process slated to begin later this year.
Return Regarding the Constitutional Tribunal?
Piotr Zgorzelski, the Sejm vice‑marshal, told Wirtualna Polska that in the coming months the situation at the Constitutional Tribunal will change. He casts doubt on the final legislative step – the president’s signature – and clarified that he refers to the replacement of judges as their terms end. According to him, new judges should be distinguished lawyers who possess the character to confront what remains of PiS influence. He reiterated on social media that the process of choosing Constitutional Tribunal judges will start this year and is a “coalition agreement.”
Vacancies in the Constitutional Tribunal
The Tribunal has 15 seats, but four are currently unfilled. In December, two more judges – Krystyna Pawłowicz and Michał Warniński – will resign. A fifth vacancy will arise in June 2026 when judge Andrzej Zielonka’s term expires. According to Onet, the most significant change will occur in September next year when PiS‑appointed judge Justyn Piskorski, one of the so‑called “twin judges” who were elected by the 2015 PO‑PSL coalition but not appointed by Andrzej Duda, will leave. The portal predicts that by 2027 the Tribunal will largely be composed of judges appointed by the current governing coalition.
Coalition Changes Stance Toward the Constitutional Tribunal
Until now the governing coalition had shown little enthusiasm for filling empty Tribunal seats. That attitude is now set to change. Piotr Zgorzelski’s remarks preceded an article in the Journal of the Legal Newspaper on 21 October detailing the coalition’s plans for the vacant positions. Waldemar Żurek is a supporter of this solution. Paweł Śliz, head of the Sejm Justice Committee, said the Sejm marshal has already sent club leaders information about deadlines for accepting and submitting candidates. “Dziennik Gazety Prawnej” reports that the deadline for the Pawłowicz vacancy will be 5 November, and for the Warniński vacancy 20 November, with a separate date announced for candidates for the remaining four positions.
