Poland’s presidency to file complaint against three judges over scuffle

Polish presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz announced that a criminal complaint will be lodged with prosecutors against three individuals, citing a violation of President Karol Nawrocki’s immunity during a scuffle at the Constitutional Tribunal building on Friday night.

Speaking on Radio Wnet on Sunday, Leśkiewicz stated that the head of state’s bodily inviolability was infringed during the incidents that occurred overnight between Friday and Saturday.

The presidential spokesperson emphasized that Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who took over the administration of the court, along with judges Maciej Berek and Krystian Markiewicz, who were elected by the current Sejm, had no right to lay hands on the president.

Leśkiewicz noted that the presidential office would initiate criminal complaint proceedings against these three individuals.

“Neither Ms Anna Korwin-Piotrowska nor Mr Krystian Markiewicz are judges of the Constitutional Tribunal; they blocked the entrance door of the Constitutional Tribunal to Mr President and violated the immunity of the head of state,” spokesperson Leśkiewicz said.

Defending Nawrocki’s visit to the court building, Leśkiewicz stated that the president acted as a citizen exercising his rights and aimed to observe the de facto situation within the institution in person.

In his remarks, Leśkiewicz said: “This is a public office established for citizens to conduct their affairs, and Mr President entered to understand the actual situation inside the Constitutional Tribunal.”

Karol Nawrocki, who cut short his visit to Senegal and returned to Poland as tensions escalated around the Constitutional Tribunal, found himself caught in a scuffle between opposing parties outside the court building shortly afterwards.

Sharing one of the videos circulating on social media, Judge Maciej Berek described the situation as “disturbing and scandalous.”

In a post on the platform X, Berek wrote: “The president moved with great speed directly at Judge A. Korwin-Piotrowska and began pushing his way through the group of other judges.”

Speaking to broadcaster TVN24, Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska said the president “virtually trampled over” them.

Addressing Korwin-Piotrowska’s remarks during his Radio Wnet interview, Leśkiewicz rejected the claim and argued that the judge was attempting to defend herself.

“Ms Korwin-Piotrowska is trying to build a line of defence for herself in this manner; this is natural because, just like Mr Berek or Mr Markiewicz, she will undoubtedly bear criminal liability for this conduct,” Leśkiewicz said.

Describing the nighttime recordings on social media as “dramatic”, Leśkiewicz claimed the footage constituted a “ready-made indictment” against Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the three individuals in question.

Leadership dispute escalates into midnight crisis

The crisis at the Constitutional Tribunal began when court president Bogdan Święczkowski and deputy president Bartłomiej Sochański were announced to have had their duties suspended.

The administration of the court was assumed by Judge Korwin-Piotrowska, who was elected by the Sejm.

Leaving the court building on Saturday morning, President Nawrocki held successive consultations with representatives of political parties in parliament, arguing that the constitutional order had been violated.

Addressing the nation that same evening, Prime Minister Donald Tusk closed the door to any compromise regarding the Constitutional Tribunal.

In an earlier assessment, Prime Minister Tusk had said, “It is our duty to restore the rule of law.”