Prosecutors rule out probing PM over Constitutional Tribunal row

Rulings by the Constitutional Tribunal become binding when they are officially published.

But Prime Minister Beata Szydło has refused to do so ever since the tribunal on 9 March rejected a raft of reforms to the way it functions that were introduced by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party. Szydło claims the tribunal’s decision was invalid.

The conflict between the government and the tribunal has left Poland in a constitutional deadlock, with some observers warning that the country faces legal chaos.

On 13 April, the European Parliament adopted a resolution warning that the “effective paralysis” of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal endangers the rule of law, democracy and human rights in this country.

Warsaw prosecutors said in a statement that, on its own, a failure to publish a decision by the Constitutional Tribunal was not enough to establish that “actions to the detriment of public or private interest" had taken place.

Reacting to prosecutors’ decision on Wednesday, Krzysztof Brejza, an MP from the opposition Civic Platform party, called on Prosecutor General Zbigniew Ziobro to explain why there would be no probe and to clarify whether he had put pressure on prosecutors.

Meanwhile, Poland's Supreme Court adopted a resolution on Tuesday saying it would respect rulings by the Constitutional Tribunal, even those that have not been officially published. (pk)

Source: PAP