The Polish President’s office is formulating a plan, including a potential Constitutional Tribunal challenge, regarding the swearing-in of four judges.
President’s Strategy Regarding Constitutional Tribunal Judges
The President’s office has a plan to address the situation surrounding four judges whose oaths of office the President refuses to accept, potentially including a complaint to the Constitutional Tribunal.
A presidential aide stated they are implementing the President’s policy regardless of media noise and criticism from the Prime Minister, who uses X (formerly Twitter) as a primary communication channel.
Constitutional Tribunal Challenge Considered
In the case of the four judges whose oaths President Karol Nawrocki refuses to accept, a complaint to the Constitutional Tribunal is being considered, alleging procedural violations during their selection.
Judges Request Swearing-In Date
Judges selected by the Sejm (Parliament) but not invited to the swearing-in ceremony by President Nawrocki have sent another letter requesting a date to take their oath of office.
The four judges reminded the President that their selection process was identical to that of Magdalena Bentkowska and Dariusz Szostek, whose oaths were accepted by President Nawrocki.
Justification for Partial Swearing-In
Zbigniew Bogucki, Head of the President’s Chancellery, explained that two vacancies arose in the Constitutional Tribunal during President Nawrocki’s term, and swearing in two judges fulfills the requirement for a full panel of 11.
He added that the situation of the remaining four selected judges is being analyzed by the President’s Chancellery, and a decision has not yet been made.
Dudek Authored Swearing-In Concept
The idea of swearing in only two judges originated with Dariusz Dudek, a constitutional law expert and presidential advisor.
Sources indicate this was a strategic maneuver to divide the judges’ loyalty and maintain a majority from the previous composition of the Tribunal.
Controversial Foreign Trip
Recent weeks have seen the President involved in both the dispute over the judges’ swearing-in and international visits to the USA and Hungary.
The visit to Hungary, in support of Viktor Orbán’s campaign, drew criticism due to Orbán’s pro-Russian stance, especially given the President’s refusal to meet with Orbán after a Visegrád Group summit due to Orbán’s meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Maintaining Relations with Hungary
A presidential aide explained that a meeting with the Hungarian President was planned even before Orbán’s meeting with Putin.
The aide stated the President is now focused on maintaining relations with Hungary, as the Hungarian Prime Minister has a strong chance of re-election, adding that neither the swearing-in nor international policy is influenced by media noise.
This strategy is echoed in an article by Paweł Szefernaker, the President’s Chief of Staff, in “Wszystko co najważniejsze” (“Everything That Matters Most”), emphasizing that a strong president should proactively develop a plan of action.