Waldemar Żurek: Outplaying the President is Our Great Success

In a recent interview, Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek claimed the government is successfully outmaneuvering President Karol Nawrocki through lawful methods regarding the National Council of the Judiciary.

Dispute Over the National Council of the Judiciary

Żurek addressed the government’s dispute with President Karol Nawrocki in an interview published on Monday, August 10, in “Rzeczpospolita.” He stated that they are outplaying the president using methods compliant with the law. He added that Nawrocki vetoed the bill on the National Council of the Judiciary despite it being a well-prepared project.

He noted that the president’s team thought it was the end and that there would be a boycott, assuming no one would elect a new Council based on the old law that they themselves questioned. They believed Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka would serve as the chairwoman until the end of time and one day longer, Żurek said.

Judges Trust Democratic Politicians

The Justice Minister emphasized that the scenario anticipated by the president’s associates did not materialize because judges believed democratic politicians. MPs promised to approve the election of judicial environment delegates based on current regulations.

Żurek assessed that Plan B, aimed at restoring the constitutionally compliant composition and functioning of the Council, is being implemented and is their great success.

Changes in the Judicial Composition of the Council

As previously reported by Gazeta.pl, the Sejm elected 15 new members of the Council in May, including 13 judges indicated by the ruling coalition’s parliamentary clubs. They were earlier selected through a procedure of vetting candidates by assemblies of judges across the country, though some judicial circles did not participate.

Law and Justice recommended Łukasz Piebiak, a former deputy justice minister under Zbigniew Ziobro, and Confederation indicated Łukasz Zawadzki, both of whom entered the National Council of the Judiciary.

Resignation and New Leadership

Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka resigned from her position as head of the National Council of the Judiciary in mid-May. The first meeting of the Council in its new judicial composition took place on June 11, during which Dariusz Zawistowski was elected chairman with 18 votes in favor, three against, and two abstentions.