Poland's political and judicial scene has reached a turning point following a series of key decisions. The Sejm adopted a resolution introducing the so-called 'Plan B' reform of the National Council of the Judiciary, sparking a brutal exchange of words in parliament. Simultaneously, the General Assembly of Supreme Court Judges selected five candidates to succeed First President Małgorzata Manowska, leaving the final decision in the hands of President Andrzej Duda. The atmosphere was further heated by an opinion from the Venice Commission and new constitutional complaints.

Sejm Adopts 'Plan B'

A resolution on the KRS was passed, which is intended to enable reform of the council by bypassing the statutory path and presidential veto.

Candidates for First President of the Supreme Court

The General Assembly selected 5 names; the list is dominated by judges appointed after 2017. The decision will be made by the president.

Uproar in Parliament

During the debate on judges, sharp clashes occurred between Waldemar Żurek and representatives of PiS and the Presidential Chancellery.

Venice Commission Opinion

The Council of Europe's advisory body issued guidelines on the verification of so-called 'neo-judges', recommending examination of individual cases.

February 27, 2026, will go down as one of the most turbulent days in the history of modern Polish parliamentarism and judiciary. The key event was the Sejm's adoption of a resolution concerning the rules for selecting judges to the National Council of the Judiciary. This solution, referred to as 'Plan B', is intended to be the ruling coalition's response to the president's expected blocking of statutory reform. During the Sejm debate, there was an unprecedented verbal confrontation between Minister Waldemar Żurek and PiS MP Tobiasz Bogucki. In the chamber, shouts of 'you will sit' echoed, illustrating the extreme polarization surrounding the legitimacy of the introduced changes. The opposition unequivocally questions the legal force of the resolution, arguing that an attempt to restructure a constitutional body with an act of this rank constitutes a gross violation of the rule of law. Simultaneously, in the Supreme Court building, judges managed to compile a list of five candidates for the position of First President. The selection took place in the third term, with a lowered quorum threshold, following earlier boycotts by the 'old' judges' community. All indicated persons are judges appointed to service after 2017. Critics point out that the process took place behind closed doors and without media participation, which the reporting judge justified as ensuring procedural efficiency. Now the decision belongs to President Andrzej Duda, who will choose Małgorzata Manowska's successor for a six-year term. The institution of the First President of the Supreme Court dates back to the beginnings of the Second Polish Republic, when the Royal-Polish Supreme Court was established in 1917. Over the decades, this function has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of supervision over the jurisprudence of common and military courts in Poland. The situation is further complicated by the stance of international organizations and the latest legal actions. The Venice Commission published recommendations regarding the verification of judges appointed after 2017, suggesting an individual approach to their status instead of automatic dismissals. Meanwhile, the current National Council of the Judiciary has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Tribunal, attempting to block government plans to exclude some judges from participating in the upcoming Council elections. Deputy Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty also joined the debate, stating plainly that the coalition does not intend to wait for the head of state's consent on matters fundamental to repairing the justice system. „My w Kancelarii Prezydenta piszemy ustawy atramentem polskich interesów.” (We at the Presidential Chancellery write laws with the ink of Polish interests.) — Tobiasz Bogucki

Perspektywy mediów: Emphasizes the necessity of restoring the rule of law by all available means, including resolutions, in the face of presidential obstruction. Criticizes the changes as illegal circumvention of the statutory path and an assault on the independence of institutions such as the KRS and the Supreme Court.

Mentioned People

  • Waldemar Żurek — Minister of Justice and MP, the main judge-spokesperson for judicial reform presenting Plan B in the Sejm.
  • Tobiasz Bogucki — Law and Justice politician and official of the Presidential Chancellery, criticizing the changes in the judiciary.
  • Włodzimierz Czarzasty — Deputy Marshal of the Sejm, commenting on the ruling coalition's motivations in the dispute with the president.