In a forceful statement, Polish President Andrzej Duda lambasted efforts to question the status of judges, warning that such actions undermine the very foundation of the justice system and endanger the legal security of citizens. Speaking at the Supreme Court during the conference “Lavoro pericoloso. O pracy sędziego,” Duda made it clear that no one — not even judges themselves — should challenge the legitimacy of their colleagues appointed after 2018 by the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS).
In his address, Duda emphasized that judges are independent in the exercise of their duties, bound only by the Constitution and the law. According to him, any attempts to question the validity of judicial appointments or the independence of judges, particularly when rooted in political disputes, are unacceptable in a democratic state. He stressed that such actions erode public trust in the judiciary and violate the principle of judicial apoliticism.
Duda doubled down on his point, arguing that questioning a judge’s status is tantamount to undermining the judiciary’s very foundation, which ultimately harms the legal protections of citizens. He insisted that judges must remain impartial and refrain from involving themselves in political conflicts, adding that decisions made by the courts should not be treated as mere opinions or dismissed as invalid by those unhappy with the outcomes.
While acknowledging the need for reforms to address modern challenges in the justice system, Duda held firm that the core principles must remain intact, including the inviolability of judicial appointments. He called the recent suggestions to challenge the legality of judges appointed after 2018 a “scandal” and vowed to oppose any unconstitutional regulations, including proposals to use “active repentance” against these judges.
Duda’s remarks come as tensions rise in Poland’s judiciary, particularly surrounding the appointments made by the reformed KRS after 2018, which some critics claim lack legitimacy. However, the President remains resolute in defending the status of these judges, dismissing any efforts to legislate otherwise as unprecedented and unacceptable.
“I will oppose these unconstitutional regulations until my last day in office,” Duda declared, signaling a prolonged battle over the future of Poland’s judiciary.