Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has accused President Karol Nawrocki of attempting to usurp power and establish a presidential system not provided for by the Constitution. His criticism focused on the president’s actions during a dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal and a row over ambassadorial appointments.
This was reported by Rzeczpospolita, citing Sikorski’s interview with TVP Info.
Poland’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister accused Karol Nawrocki of exceeding his constitutional powers and attempting to bring state institutions under his control.
“He is trying to turn Poland into a presidential republic, although he has no authority to do so,” Sikorski said.
According to the minister, Poland’s Constitution does not allow the president to independently decide on the composition of the Constitutional Tribunal. Sikorski believes that instead of administering the oath of office to judges elected by the Sejm, Nawrocki is trying to determine who can hold those positions.
“He is not the Sun King. He does not govern Poland,” the foreign minister stressed.
Dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal
Sikorski criticised President Karol Nawrocki’s actions during the dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal, particularly an incident involving Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska.
“The president showed that he was stronger than Judge Korwin-Piotrowska. He could have headbutted her, but he only pushed her,” the minister said.
According to Sikorski, judges elected by the Sejm had been unable to begin their work for a long time. He also accused the Tribunal’s previous leadership of inactivity despite receiving monthly salaries of 40,000–60,000 zlotys.
The minister supported the deployment of police to ensure the judges’ safety. He noted that the Tribunal had resumed its work and adopted a budget plan for 2027, although the president’s office disputes the legality of the meeting.
Dispute over ambassadorial appointments
Sikorski also accused Nawrocki of attempting to take over the government’s powers in foreign policy, particularly regarding the appointment of ambassadors.
“It is not the role of the Presidential Palace to dismantle the civil service and then boast about it. This damages the image of Poland and Polish diplomacy,” he said.
Regarding the proposed “constitutional reset” put forward by Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Sikorski did not express a clear position, noting that parties in the governing coalition could propose their own ways of resolving the crisis.
