Four newly elected Constitutional Tribunal judges took their oath of office in the Sejm on Thursday after the President declined to schedule a ceremony.
Judges Sworn In at Parliament
Four judges elected in March – Krystian Markiewicz, Maciej Taborowski, Marcin Dziurda, and Anna Korwin-Piotrowska – invited President Karol Nawrocki to a swearing-in ceremony at the Sejm for 12:30 PM on Thursday. They emphasized they had requested a ceremony at the Presidential Palace but received no response.
The oath was ultimately administered in the Sejm after 12:30 PM, alongside Magdalena Bentkowska and Dariusz Szostek, who had sworn their oaths the previous week at the Presidential Palace in the presence of Karol Nawrocki.
Closed-Door Ceremony and Media Restrictions
The swearing-in ceremony was closed to the media, with only TVP permitted access to broadcast the event live. Sources indicated the decision stemmed from concerns about potential disruptions by media outlets associated with PiS.
Attendees at the Swearing-In
Attendees included Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Senate Marshal Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Sejm Vice-Marshals Dorota Niedziela, Monika Wielichowska, Szymon Hołownia, and Piotr Zgorzelski, as well as former Constitutional Tribunal presidents, excluding Andrzej Rzepliński due to personal reasons. A notary was also present.
Political Context: Vote of No Confidence Motion
Poland 2050 has proposed a vote of no confidence for Minister Agnieszka Hennig-Kloska, potentially fracturing the coalition, though the outcome is considered certain. This move has resurfaced tensions between Poland 2050 and Centrum, according to Wyborcza.pl.
Presidential Office Criticizes Swearing-In
Presidential Minister Zbigniew Bogucki described the situation as “absurd” and “insolence,” stating the President would not be involved in the ceremony. He questioned where the oath would be administered, suggesting it might be “towards the columns, towards the walls,” but certainly not before the President.
Government Minister Disputes Presidential Position
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz argued the President is “committing a dereliction of duty” by not fulfilling the legal requirements and accepting the oath. He stated the President should have organized the ceremony himself, noting the judges were elected under a law supported by parties that backed his presidential candidacy.
Previous Swearing-Ins and Procedural Concerns
President Karol Nawrocki previously administered the oath to two of the elected judges, Magdalena Bentkowska and Dariusz Szostek. The Presidential Office cited “serious procedural and constitutional deficiencies” as justification for reviewing the cases of the remaining four judges.
Following the swearing-in of Bentkowska and Szostek, the remaining four judges sent a letter to the President requesting a date for their oath-taking, emphasizing their desire to begin their duties promptly.
On April 7th, the four judges formally notified the Presidential Office of their obligation to immediately begin their service, stressing the fundamental importance of a functioning Constitutional Tribunal for protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms.