“It is no coincidence that the eagle with the crown will be on your hearts. You are not bound by anything that goes beyond the Constitution. You are not bound by opinion tutors, analysts or experts who try to undermine or pass judgment on the system of the Polish state,” President Karol Nawrocki addressed the judges.
On Monday, in the gardens of the Presidential Palace, President Karol Nawrocki presented judicial nominations. He then addressed those gathered.
“I felt moved when you took your oath. I saw not only what is so important in today’s ceremony – the individual, personal and professional dimension – but also what is most important for the President: the Polish Constitution as a certain foundation, its Article 179, which speaks of appointing judges upon the motion of the National Council of the Judiciary, and finally the solemn oath at the Presidential Palace. I felt both moved and confident that thanks to you Poland will be a democratic state governed by the rule of law,” he began.
He also addressed the judges with a request:
“I kindly ask you to always remember in your decisions, whose foundation is a thicket of regulations and the law, that all these decisions always concern a human being, our citizens. Often someone who has done harm, but also someone who has been harmed, and often those who cannot resolve their disputes. This is my request to all of you – always see the other person.”
“I thank your families and your loved ones. Becoming a judge of the Republic of Poland is certainly your success, but also the success of those who supported you. I also thank you. It is your shared success,” he said to the families and loved ones of the judges.
Contrary to some opinions, he emphasized the legality of the National Council of the Judiciary: “Judges are appointed by the President upon the motion of the National Council of the Judiciary, whose Chair is with us today. The National Council of the Judiciary operates on the basis of a law – a law that has gone through the full legislative process in Poland, was signed by the President, and has never been challenged by the Constitutional Tribunal. Today it includes representatives of all political circles, who are paid by the citizens.”
And further: “It is no coincidence that the eagle with the crown will be on your hearts. You are not bound by anything that goes beyond the Constitution. You are not bound by opinion tutors, analysts or experts who try to undermine or pass judgment on the system of the Polish state. Poland is and will remain in the European Union, however the Treaty of Accession of Poland to the European Union clearly stated – the constitutional system, the Polish judiciary are matters for Polish women and men, who elect their democratic authorities and are attached to the highest act of the Republic, the Constitution. I would very much like the eagle with the crown to remind you of this every day.”
“On May 3, I spoke about what I think of the Polish Constitution of 1997. However, I want you to have a deep conviction that as President I will serve it and be its guardian until the very end – mine or that of the Constitution. I ask you to make this fundamental act your most important point of reference. Then everything will be in order in the Polish state,” the President stressed.
“This is a great responsibility that you are facing. There will be no Minister Żurek, no Prime Minister Tusk, no President Nawrocki, yet you will still deliver judgments in the name of the Republic of Poland. I would like you to have the conviction that the dignity of your office goes far beyond political disputes and the cycles of parliamentary and presidential elections,” he appealed to the judges.