"We were supposed to be different from PiS"
On Tuesday in Polsat News, the government spokesman was asked about critical voices among coalition partners after the announcement that Berek, who until recently was the minister for supervision over the implementation of government policy, would run for a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal.
The chairwoman of the Left Club, Maria Żukowska, said on Monday on Polsat News that "we were supposed to be different from PiS, we were supposed to do it differently, not exactly the same."
We were supposed to be different from PiS, we were supposed to do it differently, not exactly the same - said Anna Maria Żukowska in "Guest of Events".
In an interview with RMF FM, MP Tomasz Trela referred to "certain arrangements" which assumed that active politicians, and this is how a member of the government should be considered, would not be appointed to the Constitutional Tribunal.
Szłapka about Berek: He's more of an expert
Adam Szłapka said in Polsat News that parliamentary clubs will probably talk about Berek's candidacy, and the decision on this matter - as he noted - will be made by the Sejm. This is in no way a government decision, he added.
He noted that, in his opinion, Berek is an outstanding lawyer and a good candidate for the Constitutional Tribunal. When asked whether he thought Berek "was a politician", Szłapka said that "hardly anyone in the government, and also in the coalition, treated him as a politician."
He was, of course, a minister, but we remember well that all members of the government and club representatives treated him as an expert, a very important official hired to speed up certain processes prepared by the government - he said.
Recalling the figures of Constitutional Tribunal judge Stanisław Piotrowicz and former Constitutional Tribunal judge Krystyna Pawłowicz, both of whom were PiS parliamentarians in the past, Szłapka added that "it is difficult to compare the most politicized people, in the sense of party struggle, Piotrowicz and Pawłowicz" to "a man who has never been a member of a political party, never participated in election campaigns, or did not run."
I know perfectly well that Minister Berek was able to argue with the Prime Minister many times, including on issues related to constitutionality, said the government spokesman. Now his further fate, after being nominated by a group of MPs as a candidate for the Constitutional Tribunal, depends on the parliamentary majority, added Szłapka. He also said that he would vote for Berek.
"Everyone has the right to their opinion"
On Tuesday, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the chairman of the New Left and the speaker of the Sejm, was also asked about the negative comments of the Left's representatives regarding Berek's candidacy for the Constitutional Tribunal. Referring to MP Żukowska's statement, Czarzasty said in Wirtualna Polska that "everyone has the right to their opinion."
Until the club is convened and there is no club position on this matter, everyone presents their thoughts and says what they think, he added. Czarzasty emphasized that the position on Berek's candidacy will be determined by Lewica at the meeting of the parliamentary club, which meets a day or two before the Sejm meeting.
When is the election of a new judge of the Constitutional Tribunal?
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on August 11 that Berek was leaving the government. Two days later, he confirmed what unofficial media reports had said: that Berek would run for the Constitutional Tribunal.
On Monday, Monitor Polski published President Karol Nawrocki's decision to dismiss Berek as minister. Also on Monday, information appeared on the Sejm website that the former minister is a candidate for a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal. His candidacy was signed by KO parliamentarians.
Both candidacies for a Constitutional Tribunal judge: Berek and Artur Kotowski, proposed by the PiS club, were submitted to the Sejm Justice and Human Rights Committee, which will issue an opinion on them. According to the preliminary agenda, the Sejm may elect a new judge of the Constitutional Tribunal at the first meeting after the holidays, which will start on September 2.
The election of a new judge of the Tribunal is related to the term of office of judge Justyn Piskorski, which expires on September 18.
Tusk: Berek has made his apolitical and non-partisan nature a hallmark
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, asked last week whether the decision on Berek's candidacy for a Constitutional Tribunal judge was agreed with the coalition partners, said that Berek was not his or his party's candidate. He added that he only consented to Berek's withdrawal from the government.
Tusk also said that Berek had made "his apolitical and non-partisan nature" his hallmark and that he knew of no person better prepared to help fix "this situation we have in connection with the defective Constitutional Tribunal."
The Prime Minister added that after submitting his candidacy, there would be time to sit down with Berek "as part of the entire government coalition" and look for solutions that would give "a chance to correct the situation" in the Constitutional Tribunal. He also stated that he takes "responsibility for the fact that some (...) feel disappointed because there were supposed to be no former ministers" in the Constitutional Tribunal.
Tusk added that he understands this principle and is convinced of it himself, but today the most important thing is "the work of the most competent and courageous people." Moreover, he stated that "since the other side is using methods that are inconsistent with the constitution," he must also show determination and that the government will not give in to "this type of methods."
Who is Maciej Berek?
Maciej Berek has served as a minister-member of the Council of Ministers and head of the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers since the appointment of the current cabinet in December 2023. In March 2025, he headed the government team for deregulation established in the Prime Minister's office. Since then, he has patronized deregulatory projects prepared by the government.
In July 2025, during the reconstruction of the government, he became minister for supervision over the implementation of government policy. The Prime Minister then set before him the task of controlling and accounting for the work of ministers.
In previous years, Berek held a number of positions in offices supporting constitutional public authorities. In the years 2007-2015 he was the president of the Government Legislation Center, and in the years 2008-2015 - the secretary of the Council of Ministers. He was also the director general of the Office of the Ombudsman, deputy director of the Department of Budget and Finance and deputy director of the Department of Legal and Audit Jurisprudence of the Supreme Audit Office. He also served as director of the Senate Information Center. For two terms (in 2009-2017) he was a member of the Main Adjudicating Committee in Cases of Violation of Public Finance Discipline.
