Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek expressed outrage and embarrassment during Wednesday’s Constitutional Tribunal meeting, describing alarming scenes of a “unbalanced individual overturning a chair” and demanding that the crisis reflect in public perception.
Minister’s Reaction to Tribunal Chaos
During a deeply contentious session of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek expressed profound dismay at the chaotic conduct witnessed. Emphasizing his feeling of shame, he declared, “The whole country, all citizens, were watching a man behave in an unbalanced manner, who literally overturned the chair of his colleague at the Constitutional Tribunal, leaving me utterly appalled.”
Systemic Crisis in Poland’s Judiciary
The minister tied the incident to a broader crisis within Poland’s judiciary, noting the breakdown of institutions. “All our institutions are being destroyed,” he stated, pointing to the issues the country faces, including the contested Constitutional Court, the lack of the National Council of the Judiciary, and the compromising of the Supreme Court. According to Żurek, the incident in the Constitutional Tribunal signifies the state of collapse within the judiciary.
Dispute and Interruption in Tribunal Proceedings
Discussing the specific incident that occurred during the Tribunal’s proceedings, Żurek called the situation a consequence of long-term institutional degradation. The meeting descended into chaos, with Mr. Andrzejewski making aggressive remarks and demonstrating poor conduct, eventually leading to the postponement of the hearing until September 22nd.
