Jerzy Stępień criticizes Karol Nawrocki over Constitutional Tribunal dispute

Former Constitutional Tribunal President Jerzy Stępień has criticized President Karol Nawrocki, accusing him of violating the constitution by attempting to oversee the Sejm’s selection of a new judge.

The dispute centers on the appointment of Maciej Berek to the Constitutional Tribunal by the Sejm. While there are questions regarding whether Berek meets all formal legal requirements—including allegations from the opposition that he did not practice as a legal advisor for the required ten years—Stępień argues that the President lacks the authority to block the appointment based on these doubts.

Stępień maintains that the President’s duty is to accept the oath of office and that attempting to use statutory requirements to prevent a judge from starting their term constitutes an abuse of power. He emphasized the principle of the separation of powers, noting that Constitutional Tribunal judges are subject only to the constitution, not to ordinary statutes.

In response to the controversy, the President’s Chancellery has announced it will request clarification from the Marshal of the Sejm regarding Berek’s candidacy, stating the appointment must be “absolutely scrutinized in a formal sense.”