Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged President Karol Nawrocki on Monday, November 2, to recognize judges elected by the Sejm in order to resolve the ongoing dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal. Tusk accused the nationalist president of choosing confrontation and said the judges should take up their posts as required by the Constitution.
Tusk argued that recognizing the parliamentary appointments would settle the crisis without the need to amend the Constitution. Since returning to power in 2023, his government has sought to address the dispute over the tribunal, which remains controlled by judges associated with the nationalist opposition. The president has blocked the confirmation of new appointments made by Parliament.
The prime minister warned that Nawrocki’s stance could lead to a costly confrontation for Poland and said he would not give in. The dispute over the country’s highest court has continued since 2015, when appointments became heavily politicized. During the rule of the Law and Justice party, or PiS, judges viewed as politically engaged were appointed to the tribunal. The European Union and Tusk’s current government do not recognize some of those appointments.
The conflict intensified on Friday when riot police entered the tribunal’s premises to block access. The justice minister also requested the lifting of the immunity of the tribunal’s president, Bogdan Swieczkowski, who was appointed under PiS. Meanwhile, a judge recently appointed by the governing majority announced that she would serve as interim president and suspended Swieczkowski.
Nawrocki was traveling by plane to Senegal when the police deployment took place. He turned back immediately and went to the tribunal that evening, entering the building by force despite opposition from some judges. Nationalist protesters gathered outside and welcomed his actions.
On Saturday, the president held consultations with the main political forces, but the talks produced no tangible result. The European Commission backed Tusk’s position, calling on Nawrocki to approve the appointment of judges in order to resolve the standoff.
Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, the tribunal’s interim president, has called a general assembly of the court for Tuesday afternoon. Her authority is disputed by Swieczkowski, the nationalist opposition and the president.
Sources: Le Monde International.