Polish authorities are considering preventative police action surrounding the upcoming oath-taking ceremony for Constitutional Tribunal judges scheduled for April 9th in the Sejm.
Constitutional Tribunal Judges to Take Oath in Sejm
Judges Krystian Markiewicz, Maciej Taborowski, Marcin Dziurda, and Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, selected in March, will take their oath in the Sejm on Thursday, April 9th, at 12:30 PM. They previously requested the ceremony be held at the Presidential Palace but received no response.
Notarial Certification and Potential Tribunal Visit
The procedure on Thursday will include notarial certification of the judges’ oaths. Following the Sejm ceremony, the judges may proceed to the Constitutional Tribunal building.
Police Presence Not Ruled Out
Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Tomasz Szymański stated that police are present wherever preventative action is needed. He did not exclude police involvement, citing concerns over previous obstructions to the oath-taking process by the President, who is legally obligated to administer the oath.
Scope of Police Jurisdiction
Szymański declined to speculate on the extent of police jurisdiction within the Constitutional Tribunal. He indicated the focus would be on “securing the situation” and refrained from commenting on scenarios involving restricted access to the Tribunal building.
Operational Plans in Place
Szymański confirmed that operational plans are in place, even to facilitate the legal entry of the newly elected judges. He emphasized that such actions fall within the scope of law enforcement procedures.
Attendance at Ceremony
Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty and former Constitutional Tribunal presidents (excluding Andrzej Rzepliński due to personal reasons) are expected to attend the ceremony.
Presidential Office Disputes Oath Location
Zbigniew Bogucki, head of the President’s Chancellery, asserted in a statement that the President is the sole authority to whom the oath of a Constitutional Tribunal judge can be legitimately administered. He deemed attempts to bypass this process legally unfounded.
