Prime Minister Donald Tusk referred to his decision as a misstep, but Justice Minister Adam Bodnar stressed that it should not be read as the end of Poland’s quest to restore the rule of law. He spoke after being asked about the co-signing of Judge Krzysztof Wesolowski, defending the prime minister before a gathering at the Trzaskowski Campus where younger attendees voiced disappointment.
By presidential decree, Judge Krzysztof Wesolowski was named chairman of the assembly of judges within the Civil Chamber, a body charged with selecting candidates for the head of that chamber. Wesolowski had joined the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court in March 2022, and his subsequent appointment to the Supreme Court occurred through a process altered by the National Council of the Judiciary during the PiS administration. Following the decree, the head of government’s co-signature on the document drew widespread commentary from practitioners and observers, triggering a surge of criticism toward what many called a juristic caste.
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Tusk conceded that signing Wesolowski’s appointment was a mistake, explaining that the official who drafted the document failed to recognize its political significance.
A clear statement was needed in a case that has sparked strong reactions among independent lawyers and those advocating for a renewed sense of the rule of law in Poland. The minister did not mince words, saying that a mistake had occurred.
– Tusk stated at a press conference.
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“It really is a huge shame.”
A law student at a Campus Poland of the Future debate asked the Justice Minister about the affair.
It is really a huge shame. There is disappointment with this decision. The public was promised that the rule of law would be restored, yet changes introduced by PiS are being legalized in the process.
– remarked a participant in the debate titled “The rule of law in practice,” where the Minister spoke with European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova.
He had to explain it to Tusk
The Prime Minister acknowledged the misstep but cautioned against interpreting it as a final blow to Poland’s rule-of-law effort.
– Bodnar clarified, noting that whatever happened, the government remains obligated to advance reforms concerning the Supreme Court, the so-called neo-judges, and the National Council of the Judiciary.
He recalled the prime minister’s pledge to introduce relevant bills within days and tied this to the broader action plan presented to the European Commission. The aim is to push through legislation in a manner that can survive presidential scrutiny.
– Bodnar elaborated.
This is part of a transition period. The government seeks to enact changes under the current framework while addressing the core issue, which involves the status of the neo-rights, identified as a central challenge.
Tusk announced on Wednesday that Bodnar would soon introduce three projects addressing the status of judges, the National Council of the Judiciary, and the Supreme Court. These proposals have already been drafted. “I believe that after the presidential elections in 2025, the new president will have these bills on the table for signature, and we will be able to fulfill what we have committed to,” the prime minister added.
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olnk/PAP/wPolityce.pl
Source: wPolityce