There may be a physical attempt to take over the National Council of the Judiciary and entry by the services – such alarming information has reached journalists from the Niezalezna.pl portal. This has become even more likely, as in his first appearance after taking the oath, Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek stated: “We do not have the KRS today.” It is not excluded that a pretext for an attack will become an attempt to forcibly take over the office of the Disciplinary Ombudsman for Common Court Judges, who operates in the KRS building. “Such actions would constitute serious crimes,” stated the chairwoman of the KRS.
Another attack on the KRS?
According to information reaching the Niezalezna.pl portal, the services may enter the headquarters of the National Council of the Judiciary in the coming days. It is possible it will happen even tomorrow or Monday.
Importantly, during today’s appearance, just a few hours after the oath, Minister Waldemar Żurek threatened:
“I would like to warn those politicians who, in various statements, threaten independent judges, independent prosecutors, and attempt to intimidate them. We do not have today a KRS that would grant such people constitutional protection, therefore I will react to such situations with all firmness. I appeal to those who try to direct such threats – they will not be ignored.”
The pretext for entering the National Council of the Judiciary may be the desire to take over the office occupied by the Disciplinary Ombudsman for Common Court Judges.
Let us recall: Adam Bodnar attempted to dismiss judge Piotr Schab and his deputy judge Przemysław Radzik before the end of their term, although he admitted that according to the law he could not do so. At the same time, the (now former) minister appointed other judges to the position.
Chairwoman of the KRS appeals to prosecutors and the police
The chairwoman of the National Council of the Judiciary referred to the information about possible actions by the services. Judge Dagmara Pawełczyk-Woicka said that “the forceful takeover of the KRS headquarters” would achieve nothing, but “one can expect” that orders will be given to prosecutors to bring charges against judges, assuming “that they are not judges and do not have immunity.” She also advised prosecutors and police officers to think carefully about carrying out such orders.
“Such actions would constitute serious crimes, and in our country this time it would not be swept under the rug. The same goes for police and other service officers. Avoiding responsibility would only be possible in two scenarios: a successful coup or escape to a distant country. A coup would require: support from uniformed services, significant social support (millions of citizens, not hundreds of thousands), support from the international community, internal political support,” wrote Judge Pawełczyk-Woicka.
She added that, in her opinion, “none of these conditions are met” and “time will tell how things develop.” “However, I remember autumn 2021 (it was on social media), when during a happening in front of the Kraków District Court building, the minister encouraged people to enter the 5th floor, to the presidents’ offices. Citizens did not listen. Eventually, he appeared with a few colleagues, the atmosphere was tense, but there was no violence,” she recalled.
“We will resist”
In a conversation with Niezalezna.pl, the chairwoman of the KRS informed that no one has contacted them so far regarding the “disciplinary ombudsmen” appointed by Bodnar.
“No attempts at contact have been made,” she stated.
However, when asked about a possible intrusion into the KRS, the legal deputy of the Disciplinary Ombudsman for Common Court Judges, Judge Przemysław Radzik, responded briefly: “We will resist!”