Polish Constitutional Court to Resume Working by Fall

Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek expects the Constitutional Court to become fully operational by late fall, describing its resumption as an essential step toward establishing the rule of law in the country.

At a press conference marking his first year in office, he noted that the Sejm has elected seven Constitutional Court justices this year and is expected to select an eighth soon. He acknowledged, however, that the process has been complicated by the fact that four of the six judges elected in March have still not taken office.

Zurek criticized Constitutional Court President Bogdan Swieczkowski for what he described as preventing the legally elected judges from taking office. "This is an extremely difficult issue for the state, but you can believe me, we will get this tribunal back on its feet", he said.

The minister also announced that the government has prepared a draft law on the Supreme Court, calling for the restoration of its three chambers and tighter requirements for serving as a judge. He intends to submit it to parliament only after the so-called Rule of Law Act has been approved and signed by President Karol Nawrocki.

He named restoring the rule of law, reforming the judiciary and the prosecutor's office, and reducing the time it takes courts to issue rulings as his priorities for the first year in office. Among his achievements, he also listed the preparation of 194 legislative proposals, the disbursement of 158.2m zlotys ($41.6m) from the Justice Fund and the creation of 881 new jobs to support the courts.

(pap, bak)