Politics · Netherlands · 5 hrs ago
Polish judge takes oath without president as court dispute deepens
Maciej Berek took the oath as a judge of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal without President Karol Nawrocki present.
The ceremony took place in parliament in Warsaw after Nawrocki refused to swear him in.
The dispute reflects a wider fight over the independence of Poland’s courts, rooted in years of political influence over the judiciary.
Parliament chooses the tribunal’s judges, but the law says they should take their oath before the president.
Nawrocki says Berek does not meet legal requirements and objects to his political background; Berek disputes his assessment.
Tribunal head Bogdan Swieczkowski refuses to let Berek work, and four other judges sworn in without the president also remain unable to serve.
A Council of Europe advisory body says the president should swear in the judges without delay, but its advice is not binding.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has promised to restore the rule of law, while Nawrocki’s veto can block reforms.
Maciej Berek took the oath as a judge of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal without President Karol Nawrocki, who refused to swear him in.
The ceremony in parliament deepened a long-running dispute over judicial independence and the court’s composition.
Berek is the fifth judge to take the oath without the president; Nawrocki has sworn in only three of eight judges chosen by parliament this year.
Tribunal president Bogdan Swieczkowski does not recognise Berek’s oath and will not allow him to work as a judge.
Protests outside the court in Warsaw led to clashes with police and three arrests, according to Polish media.
- Who
- Maciej Berek, a judge chosen by Poland’s parliament. President Karol Nawrocki refused to swear him in.
- What
- Berek took the oath without the president, deepening a dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal.
- When
- The oath was taken on the morning of October 14, 2026.
- Where
- In parliament in Warsaw, Poland.
- Why
- Nawrocki says Berek does not meet the legal requirements and objects to his political background; Berek disputes the claim about his qualifications.
Maciej Berek and his supporters
Karol Nawrocki and his allies
Legal eligibility
Maciej Berek and his supporters
Berek disputes Nawrocki’s claim that he has not worked in the legal field long enough to qualify.
Karol Nawrocki and his allies
Nawrocki says Berek does not meet the legal requirements for the appointment.
Oath
Maciej Berek and his supporters
Berek took the oath in parliament without the president after Nawrocki refused to receive him.
Karol Nawrocki and his allies
Nawrocki refused to swear Berek in, while Tribunal president Bogdan Swieczkowski does not recognise the oath.
The previous PiS-led government was in power and exercised extensive political influence over the judiciary, according to NOS.
Tusk’s government took office and pledged to end political appointments in the judiciary.
Four judges not sworn in by Nawrocki arrived at the Tribunal but were stopped in its lobby.
The Venice Commission said the president should swear in new judges without delay and that they could take the oath without him if he refused.
Berek took the oath in parliament without Nawrocki, as protests took place outside the court.
- Judge
- Maciej Berek
- Court
- Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal
- Tribunal size
- 15 judges
- Judges chosen by parliament in 2026
- 8
- Judges sworn in by Nawrocki
- 3
- People arrested at protests
- 3
What people are saying
right hand
restore the rule of law