Supreme Court head lashes out at justice minister

2024-12-23 18:31 update: 2024-12-27, 14:43
Photo PAP/Radek Pietruszka
Photo PAP/Radek Pietruszka
Malgorzata Manowska, the president of Poland's Supreme Court (SN) whom critics accuse of defending the interests of the former ruling party, has harshly criticised Justice Minister Adam Bodnar after the government said one of the SN's chambers lacks independence.

President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the former ruling party, the socially-conservative Law and Justice (PiS), appointed Manowska as SN president despite the fact that she placed second in the SN's internal ballot and received 25 votes against 50 won by her contender. However, the president has the right to choose any of the five candidates who have received the most votes.

Manowska has supported PiS judicial reforms, which the current centrist government, the EU and international institutions regard as violations of rule of law.

In last week's declaration, the government said that it regards the SN's Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs, established as part of the PiS reforms, as "not ensuring the independence from the legislative and executive powers." The phrase has since been added to all published legal acts issued by the Chamber.

This has triggered Manowska to issue a statement on Monday in which she criticised Bodnar, whom she regards as the initiator of the government's move.

"Thus, all arguments by a politician holding the office of Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General that the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs does not exist or is not a court should be regarded as examples of hybrid disinformation practices undermining the Republic of Poland and the trust of citizens in state institutions, which should be met with an adequate response from the authorities responsible for state security," Manowska wrote in the statement. (PAP)
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