President Andrzej Duda stated in a speech on December 31, 2023 that a democracy requires respect for the constitution, the rule of law, and sound political habits. He also declared that he would never consent to violating the constitution. Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz responded with sarcasm in a post online, demanding that the president specify which constitutional articles had supposedly been violated. Twitter and X users, including several politicians, joined in support of the MP from the coalition allied with Donald Tusk.
President Duda: There is no permission to violate the constitution
In his final address of 2023, President Andrzej Duda noted a new phase in Polish politics. He emphasized that the nation operates within a democratic framework where the constitution, the rule of law, and responsible political conduct must guide actions. He suggested that recent days have seen attempts to seize control of public media, which he described as a breach of these principles.
According to the president, for the first time since 1989 an attempt was made to take over public media by force. He described interruptions to television signals and the suspension of news programs, and he noted that TVP, Polskie Radio, and PAP faced bankruptcy declarations. He clarified that reforms to public media could be pursued lawfully, but there would never be permission to violate the constitution. He affirmed openness to discussions about legal changes while underscoring the non-negotiable stance against constitutional violations.
– said President Duda.
READ ALSO:
– President Duda in his speech: “I call on the government coalition to observe the principles of a democratic constitutional state”
— The message set against the backdrop of the late President Lech Kaczynski’s portrait. Mastalerek commented: “It was no coincidence. It was a signal.”
– A symbolic moment during the speech showed a portrait of the late President Lech Kaczyński in the background, which online observers found striking. Some described it as highly expressive.
Gasiuk-Pihowicz asks about the articles of the constitution
Two days after the address, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz stepped into the discussion. The MP from the Tusk-led coalition posted on X to ask President Duda which constitutional articles were referenced as violated and claimed that at least thirteen provisions had been breached, though she offered no specifics in her initial message.
“I have a question for the president. Specifically, which articles of the Constitution have been violated? Because when it comes to your achievements, you can name at least thirteen,” she wrote on X.
Twitter/X users respond
On the platform, several users, including politicians, weighed in by naming articles they believed had been breached by the Tusk-led government. The discussion highlighted Article 2, Article 7, and Article 190, Section 1, with some participants noting the rapid timeframe involved and the cautious interpretation of events. A Supreme Court judge, Kamil Zaradkiewicz, contributed his assessment, confirming a focus on those articles and urging careful interpretation of constitutional provisions.
The debate included calls to specify which articles were violated and to provide clear references. A parliamentary figure, Marcin Horała, stressed that Article 7 concerns government action within the bounds of law and questioned the alleged overreach by a minister who was accused of assuming powers assigned to another body. Horała also cautioned that the assertion of thirteen violated articles should be substantiated with precise references. Statements from other lawmakers, including Bartosz Pałucki, echoed the demand for concrete evidence of constitutional violations. Some participants urged the MP to list the supposed thirteen provisions, noting a history of allegations against the ruling parties that required factual support.
READ ALSO:
— The President of the Constitutional Court, Julia Przyłębska, reminded KO MPs of the provisions of the Constitution. “It has nothing to do with goodwill or anyone’s stance.”
— Prof. Sadurski offered a critique of the government’s approach to the rule of law, while Jabłoński suggested that certain statements merit recording.
— The boards of directors of regional broadcasting stations voiced concerns about decisions affecting public media in line with applicable regulations and constitutional principles.
wkt/X/wPolityce.pl
Source: wPolityce