Political battle intensifies over control of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal as neither side willing to cede power to block reforms or protect political interests.
A Key Political Battlefield
The Constitutional Tribunal has become one of the most important battlefields in political fighting. The dispute over the swearing-in of new judges shows that neither side wants to give up control over an institution that can block reforms and protect its own political base.
From Ceremonial to Political Tool
In normal circumstances, the swearing-in of Constitutional Tribunal judges would be a boring, ceremonial event in the Presidential Palace. However, after years of devastating conflict, the role of the constitutional court has been reduced to that of a political executor, over which no one wants to lose control.