During a press briefing on Wednesday, President Karol Nawrocki announced his decision to refuse the appointment of 46 judges. He emphasized that this move stems from the constitutional powers vested in the head of state and from his belief that some candidates are undermining Poland’s legal order.
“It is the President’s prerogative to appoint judges, but he may also refuse such appointments. Today, I am exercising that right — I am refusing to appoint 46 judges. This is not merely a verbal signal but a concrete decision,” said President Nawrocki.
The President reminded that his decision is grounded in a 2012 Constitutional Tribunal ruling, which explicitly states that the appointment of judges falls within the exclusive prerogatives of the President of the Republic of Poland and does not require a countersignature. This means that the head of state has the constitutional authority not only to appoint judges but also to refuse such appointments.
“I Will Not Promote Those Who Undermine the Constitutional System”
In the following part of his statement, President Nawrocki stressed that he also has no intention of granting promotions to judges who, in his view, question the foundations of Poland’s constitutional system.
“I will not grant promotions to judges who undermine the constitutional and legal order of the Republic of Poland; to those who listen to the harmful advice of the Minister of Justice, Waldemar Żurek, who encourages judges to challenge the lawful decisions of state institutions,” the President declared.
According to Nawrocki, the ongoing public debate about so-called “neo-judges” and “paleo-judges” is purely journalistic in nature and contributes to the erosion of public trust in the judiciary.
“Every judge appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland is a judge of the Republic of Poland. Divisions introduced by politicians or the media undermine the very foundations of the rule of law,” he emphasized.
Fulfilling Earlier Declarations
The President also recalled that his decision is consistent with earlier commitments, including those made during his inauguration on August 6. At that time, he announced that one of his priorities would be to defend the constitutional order and uphold the prerogatives of the presidency in judicial appointments.
“I am honest in fulfilling my declarations. I said I would defend the independence of the Office of the President and its prerogatives. Today, I am following through on that promise,” Nawrocki stated.
He added that his decision aims to “protect the institutional stability of the state” and to restore citizens’ trust in the judicial system.
