President Andrzej Duda has responded to the letter from the First President of the Supreme Court Małgorzata Manowska. In the letter, Poland's Chief Justice commented on the situation the country's justice system has found itself after the recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union. "Everything suggests that legislative changes are needed," he said.
In a letter addressed to the president, speakers of the Sejm and the Senate, and the prime minister, the First President of the Supreme Court Małgorzata Manowska has commented on the system of disciplinary liability. Her letter came in relation to interim measures imposed by the Court of Justice of the European Union on the contested Disciplinary Chamber of Poland's top court.
"Regardless of potential far-reaching financial consequences of not complying with CJEU rulings that Poland faces, I'd like to draw draw the attention to the factual paralysis of the system of disciplinary accountability of judges - resulting from the said rulings, which has been going on for a year, and has drastically intensified in recent weeks," Manowska wrote.
In the letter, the Chief Justice also asked the president to consider exercising his right to legislative initiative, which would facilitate "effective and non-controversial" functioning of disciplinary system in Poland.
President responds to Chief Justice's letter
In an interview for Polish Press Agency, President Andrzej Duda said he "fully" agreed with Chief Justice Małgorzata Manowska.
"First of all, I think there should be a system of disciplinary liability for judges, to make it effective, so that the society could feel that there is no complete lack of liability, but to the contrary, that it exists," the president said.
"Obviously, the judges community should also be aware that this liability is in place, but it should really be transparent, reliable and fair," he added.
Asked about judge Manowska's comment on CJEU rulings causing "a factual paralysis of the system of disciplinary accountability of judges", Duda replied that "everything suggests that legislative changes are needed".
In a ruling from July 15m the CJEU said Poland's system of disciplining judges was at odds with the EU law. The previous day, on July 14, CJEU Vice-President Rosario Silva de Lapuerta decided to impose interim measures ordering an "immediate suspension" of Polish laws regulating the authority of the Supreme Court's Disciplinary Chamber, contested by this very court.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP