President Karol Nawrocki is analyzing the situation regarding newly elected Constitutional Tribunal judges, prompting criticism from the ruling coalition and calls for swift action.
Presidential Review of Tribunal Judges
President Karol Nawrocki is currently reviewing the situation concerning the judges of the Constitutional Tribunal, according to Marcin Przydacz, head of the Presidential Bureau of International Policy. Przydacz addressed journalists in Dallas regarding the president’s decision on the matter.
Przydacz stated that the president’s decisions are often binary – either approving or rejecting a law, or accepting or refusing an oath of office.
Government Criticism and Rule of Law Concerns
Przydacz criticized the current government, stating that its actions over the past year and a half “leave much to be desired” regarding the rule of law. He noted the coalition’s campaign promise to restore the rule of law and trust in legal institutions, calling the current situation “pathetic.”
Oath of Office and Legal Basis
Przydacz emphasized that, according to the constitution and relevant laws, an oath of office is required to become a judge. He indicated that the Presidential Chancellery is in correspondence with the Sejm Chancellery and has identified certain actions as potentially unlawful or lacking a legal basis.
Tusk’s Response and Presidential Discretion
Prime Minister Donald Tusk asserted that the president “has no choice” in the matter, stating that the judges have been elected and will take the oath. He expressed confidence that the president will realize that shared responsibility for the state is not a partisan game.
Przydacz added that he does not want to “be a factor preempting the president’s decisions.”
Publication of Tribunal Rulings and Selection Process
Przydacz pointed out that rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal have not been published by the ruling side for the past 1.5 years, which he said is contrary to the law. He accused Donald Tusk and his legal advisors of disregarding the institution and attempting to gain control over the Tribunal through a large-scale selection of judges.
List of Elected Judges
The newly elected judges of the Constitutional Tribunal include Krystian Markiewicz, Maciej Taborowski, Marcin Dziurda, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, Dariusz Szostek, and Magdalena Bentkowska.