Poll: President Blamed for Escalating Constitutional Tribunal Conflict

The ongoing saga surrounding Poland's Constitutional Tribunal (TK) has entered a new, deeply concerning phase, effectively paralyzing the court's ability to function. As reported by Rzeczpospolita, the situation is dire: out of a nominal 15 judges, only 11 are currently able to serve. This is largely due to the actions of TK President Bogdan Święczkowski, who has barred four of the six new judges elected by the Sejm from taking their oaths and assuming their duties. These judges—Marcin Dziurdza, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, Krystian Markiewicz, and Maciej Taborowski—were not sworn in by President Andrzej Duda, despite their elections by the parliamentary majority.

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Prezes TK, Bogdan Święczkowski, nie dopuścił do orzekania czworga z sześciorga nowych sędziów wybranych przez Sejm.

Constitutionalists widely agree that administering the oath is a duty, not a prerogative, of the president. Yet, President Duda has delayed the swearing-in of these four judges. The article highlights that the delay in filling these vacancies, as existing judges retired, has no clear justification. This inaction has fueled the ongoing dispute, with many questioning the president's role in the escalating crisis.

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Zdaniem zdecydowanej większości konstytucjonalistów, przyjęcie ślubowania od prawidłowo wybranych przez Sejm sędziów TK nie jest prerogatywą czy kompetencją prezydenta, ale jego obowiązkiem.

A recent poll conducted by IBRiS for Rzeczpospolita sheds light on public opinion. A significant 34.4% of respondents identify President Duda as the primary culprit for the conflict's escalation, citing his selective swearing-in of only two new judges while withholding it from the other four. Another 25% believe responsibility is shared equally among the president, the government, the judges who took an alternative oath in the Sejm, and the TK president who blocked their service.

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Z najnowszego badania wykonanego na zlecenie „Rzeczpospolitej” przez Instytut Badań Rynkowych i Społecznych IBRiS wynika, że głównym winnym eskalacji konfliktu jest prezydent Karol Nawrocki, który przyjął ślubowanie tylko od dwójki sędziów (Magdaleny Bentkowskiej i Dariusza Szostka), a zwlekał co do pozostałej czwórki.

Interestingly, the public appears more forgiving of the four judges who, facing presidential inaction, took their oath in the Sejm, a procedure not explicitly outlined in the TK statute. While criticized by the political right, only 2.8% of respondents felt their actions exacerbated the conflict. In contrast, 3.5% believed TK President Święczkowski's decision to block them from serving was more escalatory. This suggests a public perception that the government and the president bear a greater burden for the ongoing judicial paralysis. From our perspective at Rzeczpospolita, this situation is a grave concern for the rule of law in Poland, and the public's clear attribution of blame to the presidency underscores the need for immediate resolution and a return to constitutional norms.

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Tak wskazało 34,4 proc. respondentów.