Poland Constitutional Tribunal crisis intensifies over judge appointments

A legal and political crisis is unfolding in Poland regarding the Constitutional Tribunal and the authority of President Karol Nawrocki. The dispute centers on the President's refusal to accept the oaths of certain judges selected by the Sejm, specifically questioning whether candidates like Maciej Berek meet the required ten-year professional experience criteria.

The Committee of Legal Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) has issued a resolution stating that oaths taken without the physical presence of the President remain legally effective. Citing the Venice Commission, the committee argued that the President does not have the discretionary power to control or block the Sejm's selection of judges, noting that the President is obligated to facilitate the swearing-in process.

Controversy has also been fueled by leaked recordings of Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, who suggested that Maciej Berek was selected despite not meeting formal criteria. This has led to further debate over the politicization of the Tribunal and whether the President's actions constitute an unconstitutional overreach of power.