President Karol Nawrocki is analyzing a dispute over newly appointed Constitutional Tribunal judges following a visit to the U.S., with the decision potentially impacting his relationship with the Sejm.
President Under Pressure Regarding Tribunal Judges
During a two-day working visit to the U.S., President Karol Nawrocki participated in the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he delivered a speech. He concluded the visit with a meeting with the Polish diaspora in Dallas.
The President is currently reviewing the situation surrounding the judges of the Constitutional Tribunal, according to Marcin Przydacz, Head of the Presidential Bureau of International Policy.
Presidential Office and Sejm Correspondence
Przydacz emphasized the President does not want to preempt his own decision. He highlighted the constitutional and legal requirements for judges, specifically the need to take an oath before the President, making the President’s decision crucial.
Correspondence is ongoing between the Presidential Chancellery and the Sejm Chancellery. The Presidential Chancellery identifies potential legal irregularities in the selection process, which will influence the President’s final decision. Przydacz also criticized the ruling majority’s adherence to the rule of law over the past year and a half.
Prime Minister Disputes Presidential Discretion
Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the President has no discretion in the matter, asserting that the selected judges will take the oath regardless. He dismissed the idea that the President’s decision is based on personal preference.
Sejm’s Election and Presidential Review
The Sejm elected six Constitutional Tribunal judges on March 13th. The Presidential Chancellery requested clarification from the Speaker of the Sejm regarding the election procedure. Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the Speaker, declined to engage in further debate and urged President Nawrocki to administer the oath.
The newly elected judges have appealed to the President to announce a possible date for their swearing-in ceremony.
Oath Requirements
According to the Act on the Status of Constitutional Tribunal Judges, appointees must swear an oath before the President of the Republic of Poland, pledging allegiance to the Nation, upholding the Constitution, and performing duties impartially and diligently. The oath may conclude with the phrase “So help me God.”
