Public Opinion Divided: Żurek Edges Out Święczkowski in Constitutional Dispute

A recent SW Research poll reveals that while Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek holds a lead over Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski, nearly 60 percent of Poles remain unconvinced by either side.

The Public Verdict

In a direct comparison regarding the state of the rule of law in Poland, Waldemar Żurek maintains a 9.4 percentage point lead over Bogdan Święczkowski. While 25.5 percent of respondents support the Justice Minister’s position, only 16.1 percent align with the Constitutional Tribunal President.

However, this gap does not translate into broad public consensus. A significant 58.3 percent of those surveyed either reject both sides of the conflict, remain undecided, or admit to having no knowledge of the ongoing legal dispute.

Core Conflict Over Constitutional Judges

The friction between the Ministry of Justice and the Constitutional Tribunal is centered on the status of four judges selected by the Sejm on March 13, 2026, who have not been permitted to adjudicate. These individuals—Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, Krystian Markiewicz, Marcin Dziurda, and Maciej Taborowski—have yet to take their oaths before the President.

Bogdan Święczkowski argues that these judges cannot perform their duties without the required presidential oath. Conversely, the government maintains that the current administration of the Tribunal is operating outside of standard legal procedures, leading to a standstill in the court’s composition and efficacy.

The Impact of the Countersignature Ruling

Tensions escalated on June 25, 2026, when the Constitutional Tribunal ruled that requiring the Prime Minister’s countersignature for certain presidential decisions—including judicial appointments—is unconstitutional. This ruling effectively expands the President’s autonomous power.

Minister Żurek has challenged the legality of this judgment, questioning the composition of the Tribunal at the time of the ruling. This debate over the institutional hierarchy and the validity of Tribunal decisions has now moved beyond mere rhetoric into a deep, systemic conflict.

Legal Battles and Defamation Claims

The dispute has entered the judicial sphere as well. In January 2026, Bogdan Święczkowski filed a private indictment against Waldemar Żurek, accusing him of defamation. The charges stem from public comments made by the Minister regarding Święczkowski’s prior tenure as National Prosecutor, specifically concerning investigations into Roman Giertych and the Polnord company.

This ongoing criminal case, coupled with previous attempts by Żurek to hold Święczkowski legally accountable, signifies that the rivalry has transcended political debate and evolved into formal, mutually destructive legal actions.

Methodology and Survey Scope

The study was conducted by SW Research on July 1, 2026, on behalf of Onet, utilizing online CAWI interviews. The survey sampled 832 adults from across Poland, with quotas applied to ensure a representative distribution of age, gender, and regional demographics.