The Minister of Justice does not rule out the use of the police in the Constitutional Tribunal
Quick Look
- Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek stated in an interview for TVP Info that the government does not rule out the use of state services, including the police, to restore legal order in the Constitutional Tribunal, where President Bogdan Święczkowski is blocking access to four judges elected by the Sejm.
- The conflict escalated after the Chancellery of the President questioned the validity of their election and oath, and also doubted the formal qualifications of the candidate Maciej Berek.
- The National Prosecutor's Office is investigating whether judges were not allowed to adjudicate.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The conflict around the Constitutional Tribunal intensified after President Bogdan Święczkowski did not allow four judges elected by the Sejm, from whom the president had not taken the oath, to adjudicate. The Chancellery of the President concluded that there were errors in the election procedure, and the oath taken in the Sejm "in front of the president" has no legal force. In the background of the dispute, there was also the candidacy of Maciej Berek, whose election as a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal raised doubts as to the fulfillment of formal requirements.
The situation around the Constitutional Tribunal still arouses great emotions. In a Wednesday interview on TVP Info, Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek openly admitted that the government does not exclude the use of state services, including the police, to restore legal order in this institution.
"We cannot rule out that we will restore the law using the services"
When asked about the possibility of police intervention in connection with blocking access to the Tribunal by President Bogdan Święczkowski, Żurek emphasized that all actions must be in accordance with the law. Of course, I do not want to reveal the details that I hope will happen, but we cannot rule out the possibility that we will restore the law using the services that are responsible for maintaining order in the state, emphasized the minister.
The head of the Ministry also appealed to people blocking access to legally elected judges, warning that "the mills of justice have begun to grind" and anyone who violates the law will suffer the consequences of their actions.
The Constitutional Tribunal scandal
Let us recall that the conflict around the Constitutional Tribunal intensified after the president of the Constitutional Tribunal, Bogdan Święczkowski, did not allow four judges elected by the Sejm, from whom the president had not taken the oath, to adjudicate. The Chancellery of the President concluded that there were errors in the election procedure, and the oath taken in the Sejm "in front of the president" has no legal force.
In the background of the dispute, there was also the candidacy of Maciej Berek, former minister of supervision over the implementation of government policy, whose election as a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal raised doubts as to the fulfillment of formal requirements. The Chancellery of the President is demanding additional documents confirming Berek's ten years of work experience as a legal advisor.
The Minister of Interior and Administration, Marcin Kierwiński, had already announced that if the law is broken in the Tribunal, the police will have to intervene. The National Prosecutor's Office is currently investigating whether judges were not allowed to adjudicate.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The National Prosecutor's Office will present the results of the investigation into the fact that judges were not allowed to adjudicate in the Constitutional Tribunal.
Likely · Within weeks
The government may attempt to use state services to restore access to the Constitutional Tribunal if the situation is not resolved legally.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- Will the government actually decide to use the police in the Constitutional Tribunal?
- What legal consequences may result from the possible intervention of the services?
- Will the National Prosecutor's Office present the results of the investigation into judges not being allowed to adjudicate?
- What documents will Maciej Berk have to present to confirm his seniority?
