The head of the National Council of the Judiciary appeared in the Sejm, then left. “Shocking”, “scandal”

On Thursday evening, the Sejm debated the Information on the activities of the National Council of the Judiciary in 2023. During her speech, the chairwoman of the Council, Judge Pawełczyk-Woicka, said that she had been obliged by the National Council of the Judiciary to present the resolution of the politicized Council, adopted on Thursday and concerning “threats to the independence of judges”.

“The National Council of the Judiciary expresses its strong opposition to the political changes announced by the government, which aim to remove judges appointed since 2018 from the profession and to politically verify them,” the resolution reads.

After reading out the subsequent points of the resolution, the head of the National Council of the Judiciary left the plenary chamber.

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– This is the biggest scandal we are dealing with today – said Krystyna Skowrońska from the Civic Coalition, emphasizing that the report submitted by Pawełczyk-Woicka was off-topic.

– I kindly ask the Speaker to check why the chairwoman of the National Council of the Judiciary is not participating in this session, disrespecting the high chamber. Such behavior should be stigmatized – she added.

Mateusz Bochenek from the Civic Coalition also asked for an explanation regarding the behavior of the head of the National Council of the Judiciary. “She should be here in the chamber and listen to the questions that parliamentarians ask her,” he pointed out.

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During the discussion, Karolina Pawliczak from the Civic Coalition, addressing the chairwoman of the National Council of the Judiciary, assessed it as “shocking”. – You were not bothered by PiS's destruction of the justice system and the unlawful election of judges to the politicized National Council of the Judiciary for years – she said.

– Now you are bothered by the fact that we are actually cleaning up what you have ruined, in accordance with the constitution that is most important to us. Shame on you, Madam Chairwoman, great shame, you are not worthy of this function and the positions you hold – said the KO MP.

Tomasz Zimoch (Polska2050-Trzecia Droga) pointed out, however, that a large part of the accession of the chairwoman of the National Council of the Judiciary “was completely off-topic, which should have been information about the Council's activities last year”. – Never, in her activities to date, and also in 2023, has the chairwoman of the National Council of the Judiciary stood up for judges. Never – he assessed.

Katarzyna Ueberhan from the Left pointed out that “what we heard from the chairwoman today was not a report on activities”. – Why? Was there nothing to report? – she asked.

– So far, including in the discussed year 2023, which is covered by the information in question, there have been many irregularities in the operation of the National Council of the Judiciary, also related to the violation of ethical principles, and it is impossible to mention them all – said Michał Pyrzyk (PSL-Trzecia Droga).

While Witold Tumanowicz (Confederation) announced that his club will collect signatures for a motion of no confidence in the Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar.

– You believe that you can repair the constitution through illegal actions, breaking the constitution. It is not possible. This is not the way – he addressed the members of parliament of the ruling coalition.

– The time has come Donald TuskAdam Bodnar and suddenly we are back to the times of deep Stalinism, to the fact that judges had to sign some kind of loyalty and report self-criticism. It is unfathomable – said Marek Ast (PiS).

On the other hand PiS MP At the end of the nearly two-hour debate, Bartosz Kownacki addressed the coalition MPs with the words: “You will sit in prison.”