A survey of readers following coverage of tensions surrounding Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal overwhelmingly points to President Karol Nawrocki as most responsible for the escalating crisis.
Tribunal Crisis: Reader Poll Results
Following an article published on April 16th detailing tensions surrounding the Constitutional Tribunal, specifically regarding the selection and swearing-in of new judges, readers were asked to identify who they held responsible for the situation’s escalation.
The poll revealed that 82.11% of respondents (2456 votes) attributed responsibility to President Karol Nawrocki. The ruling majority received 12.17% of the votes (364 people).
Other Parties Cited in Poll
Newly appointed judges were indicated by 1.14% of voters (34 people), while Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski received 1.81% (54 votes). A small percentage, 2.31% (69 people), believed responsibility was shared equally among all parties.
An additional 0.47% (14 people) stated they had no opinion. A total of 2991 votes were cast, with results compiled on April 17th.
Constitutional Tribunal Ruling on KRS and Judge Selection
The Constitutional Tribunal addressed regulations concerning the selection of judges for the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS). It deemed two elements of the procedure unconstitutional, including the role of the Minister of Justice in vetting candidates and the rules for appealing to the Supreme Court.
The case was heard by a five-member panel chaired by Judge Stanisław Piotrowicz, with Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski serving as rapporteur. The proceedings occur during the ongoing process of selecting new KRS members, for which 60 candidates have been nominated.
The Tribunal also questioned the provision regarding appeals to the Supreme Court, stating that current regulations do not guarantee a judicial decision if a case is not resolved within three days. The President of the Tribunal warned that disregarding the ruling’s consequences could impact the entire procedure, potentially leading to a flawed KRS composition.