Email scandal: chief of PM's office was to discuss rulings of Constitutional Court with top judge

Correspondence allegedly leaked from the Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Michał Dworczyk's and PM Mateusz Morawiecki's private email accounts has been appearing in the internet since mid-2021. The government persists in denying the leaked emails' authenticity, blaming Russian secret services for being behind the scandal, but so far those in charge have not provided any examples of fake emails. On the contrary, at least a few leaked messages have been already authenticated by people whose names appear in said correspondence.

Another email allegedly leaked from Michał Dworczyk's account was published on Monday (July 4). The message had been sent by Dworczyk to PM Morawiecki on January 7, 2019. In the message, the head of PM's office said he had "visited Julia P." that day and discussed three topics with her. The prime minister was reply briefly: "Yes-OK, thanks". The said "three topics" were three ruling issued by the Constitutional Tribunal.

Civic Platform MP and the party's former chairman Grzegorz Schetyna said on Tuesday that "the way Dworczyk treats Przyłębska, and ultimately (how) PiS (treats) the Constitutional Tribunal, they (the government) want to treat the whole judicial system". "They think that judges and courts should wait by the phone, pick up the receiver and take orders," he said.

"We heard earlier on that, for Jarosław Kaczyński, Julia Przyłębska had been a 'social and culinary discovery'. Now, we know that not only that, but also a good and reliable source of information regarding cases proceeded by the Tribunal under her supervision," Schetyna added. "This is truly a disgrace and all those involved in these dealings must be punished. I hope that PiS will pay the political price for this in the next elections," he said.

Civic Coalition MP Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz said she would notify the prosecutor's office about the leaked email. "Obviously, for PiS there is no case, as the emails are "alleged". Therefore, I inform the "alleged" chairwoman (of the Constitutional Tribunal), the "alleged" minister and the "alleged" prime minister that once PiS has been removed from power, a real prosecutor shall be waiting for them," she added.

"This is the separation of powers served by PiS. A minister, that is the executive branch, goes to a court president, of the most important court in Poland - the Constitutional Tribunal, a separate branch, and discusses dates and outcomes of complaints filed in said Tribunal," said Deputy Speaker of Sejm and Polish People's Party MP Piotr Zgorzelski.

"This shows the downfall of this state and of what has been done with the separation of powers - it simply doesn't exist in Poland," Zgorzelski argued. "This email portrays Poland as an undemocratic state," he added.

Chief of the Left parliamentary club Krzysztof Gawkowski said at a press conference on Tuesday called the alleged information regarding Dworczyk and Przyłębska "a violation of standards and the law". He stressed that "in a constitutional country no judge discusses rulings, no judge speaks of deliberate deferring of cases".

According to Gawkowski, the leaked email confirms "the Constitutional Tribunal doesn't work". "Verdicts on demand - this is the essence of the PiS state," he added. In his view, Dworczyk should be charged by a prosecutor and possibly face the State Tribunal.

The Left deputy chief Tomasz Trela demanded judge Przyłębska steps down from held office and questioned her independence.

Judge Julia Przyłębska told Polskie Radio on Monday "she had never discussed and does not discuss any rulings with anyone".