Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the Chancellery of the President of Poland, underwent an eight-hour interrogation at the National Prosecutor’s Office on Friday regarding the president’s refusal to swear in four Constitutional Tribunal judges.
Procedural Details of the Interrogation
The questioning of Zbigniew Bogucki as a witness lasted nearly eight hours, including four scheduled breaks. According to Prosecutor Anna Adamiak, spokesperson for the Prosecutor General, the session was recorded at Bogucki’s request, and the witness answered the prosecutor’s prepared questions without challenging the legal status of the proceedings.
Bogucki Denounces Legal Proceedings as Political Harassment
Following the session, Bogucki described the ordeal as a “wonderfully wasted day,” characterizing the investigation as a politically motivated misuse of taxpayer funds. He claimed the inquiry lacked any legal or factual basis and criticized the duration of the process, stating that such tactics are intended to impede the functioning of the presidential office.
Background of the Constitutional Tribunal Investigation
The investigation, launched in April, centers on allegations that presidential officials facilitated the president’s refusal to swear in four of the six judges selected by the Sejm in March. The probe also examines potential labor law violations regarding the denial of office space and duties to these judges, preventing them from exercising their judicial mandates.
Broader Judicial Controversy
While two of the judges selected in March were sworn in by the president and assumed their posts, the remaining four were not officially recognized by the Constitutional Tribunal. The European Court of Human Rights has recently issued an interim measure ordering Poland to cease obstruction of these judges, as the legal battle over their appointments continues.
