The proposal to remove the president via a referendum is not a matter of regulatory procedure; it risks misinforming the public, according to a presidential minister who stressed the point clearly.
Chmaj’s proposal to dismiss the president through a referendum
Lawyer Marek Chmaj, who has served as vice-chairman of the State Tribunal since 2019 on the Civic Coalition’s recommendation, stated on the program Dudek on Politics that, in his view, a process exists to dismiss the president before the end of the term. He described the possibility as theoretical, noting that it would require the population to approve a referendum allowing new elections to be held ahead of schedule.
“In short, new elections before the term ends could be triggered if the people agree through a referendum. Such a hypothetical option also exists,” he said.
“The Constitution is explicit”
The presidential minister characterized Chmaj’s suggestion as original and unrelated to current legal rules. She argued that it is inappropriate for people who position themselves as constitutional authorities to mislead the public with such statements.
She added that the Constitution clearly defines how the President of the Republic of Poland is elected, the duration of the term, and the circumstances under which the presidency can be vacated. According to her, the constitutional order provides for elections, changes in office due to death or resignation, or removal of the president by a decision of the State Tribunal, but not dismissal via referendum.
“Our constitutional framework does not contemplate a president’s dismissal through a referendum,” she asserted.
“Political jokes”
The presidential minister pointed out that President Andrzej Duda enjoys a broad social mandate in Poland, evidenced by more than 10.5 million votes in the second-term elections. She expressed bewilderment at statements of this kind, labeling them as political humor and noting that the political landscape contains clear commentary dismissing the proposal as absurd.
Her remarks were accompanied by several reactions from lawmakers and commentators who labeled the idea as impractical and legally questionable, underscoring the lack of support in the constitutional framework for such a path to replace a sitting president.
Sources within political circles highlighted ongoing debates about the role of referendums in constitutional processes and emphasized the need for careful legal analysis before considering any drastic steps. The discussion sparked renewed attention to the mechanisms in place for accountability and the limits of referendum power in Poland’s governing system.
Analysts noted that proposals surrounding the possible dismissal of a president through a popular vote tend to provoke strong reactions due to their potential impact on democratic stability and constitutional norms. Experts stressed that any move of this kind would require rigorous constitutional scrutiny and broad consensus among political actors to avoid undermining the rule of law.
Observers are watching to see how the discourse evolves, particularly in light of recent elections, public confidence in institutions, and the ongoing dialogue about executive accountability in the country’s political life.
— Matczak criticized the concept as dangerous and legally flawed, calling it an overt circumvention of constitutional order. Other voices urged restraint and a focus on established constitutional avenues for addressing concerns about presidential conduct or performance.
Source: wPolityce