It’s rare that I find myself in a situation where I say, “I know something, but I won’t say everything.” This time, I must — because the situation was extraordinary. We were one step away from tragedy.
On the morning of June 26, all signs pointed to the government planning a forceful intervention against the Supreme Court. Statements from a minority group of judges within the Supreme Court, former presidents of the Constitutional Tribunal, and finally the prime minister himself — accompanied by a media blitz from the de facto PO leader Roman Giertych and Adam Bodnar — suggested an attempt to take very radical action. They were stopped, and many people contributed to this outcome. The determination of the majority of honest Supreme Court judges and administrative staff, the help of many individuals I cannot name today, the actions of Sejm Speaker Szymon Hołownia — but most of all, the massive information campaign by our media and the immediate mobilization of the “Gazeta Polska” clubs — all played their part. Tusk backed down, and for now at least, the issue has dissipated. What’s left of the coup attempt is an image of a few dozen fanatics in front of the court, supporting Giertych’s photocopier along with “Grandma Kasia,” the deadbeat dad Kijowski, and someone named Lempart. But disaster was dangerously close. We must do everything to ensure that such situations never happen again.