Polish President Karol Nawrocki denounced Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek’s legal remarks over presidential judge nominations, accusing him of “eating his own tail.”
Nawrocki Criticizes Minister’s Constitutional Misinterpretation
President Nawrocki said it is sad that Minister Żurek does not understand the constitution’s clear definition of presidential powers in appointing judges. He added that the minister is doubly ignorant of the 2012 Constitutional Tribunal ruling, which highlighted the same issue.
Nawrocki argued that the minister’s attempt to insist on a justification is unnecessary: all judges nominated by the president are Polish judges and must focus on issuing verdicts, not converting court chambers into parliamentary rooms. He concluded with a jocular remark wishing the minister “a good gymnastics.”
President Defends Presidential Judicial Nomination Power
Nawrocki reiterated that the right to nominate judges is a constitutional matter and that the justice minister must respect the Polish Constitution and Constitutional Tribunal decisions. He noted that, like all presidents, he can refuse nominations “in accordance with Polish law and constitution.”
Minister Responds to Nawrocki’s Denial of Nominations
During a press conference, Minister Żurek said the president’s refusal was caused by “whispers” from the minister that did not sit well with him, calling such motives “extralegal” and a violation of the constitution. He emphasized that the approach to nominations was unconstitutional.
Regarding the “key of denial,” he revealed that they examined objection lists signed by Polish judges in 2020 and 2021, which pertained to so‑called envelope‑voting procedures.
