Polish parliamentary committee endorses Constitutional Tribunal candidates: Markiewicz and Taborowski on list

The parliamentary committee on justice and human rights positively endorsed on Thursday, March 12, seven candidates for judges of the Constitutional Tribunal. Among the recommended individuals were lawyers nominated by the ruling coalition, including the president of the Polish Judges Association Iustitia Krystian Markiewicz and Maciej Taborowski. The list supported by the committee also includes the names of Marcin Dziurda, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, Dariusz Szostek, and Magdalena Bentkowska. The vote to select six new judges will take place on Friday, March 13. The ruling coalition also submitted a draft resolution concerning actions necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the body.

The process of filling vacancies in the Tribunal is stirring emotions due to the inclusion of an opposition candidate, whose nomination was also supported by the committee. According to information provided by a PiS spokesperson, the party submitted to the CT the candidacies of Artur Kotowski and Michał Skwarzyński, one of whom received a positive opinion from MPs during Thursday's session. This decision comes at a time when the office of head of state is held by Karol Nawrocki, and the work of the lower house is led by Włodzimierz Czarzasty. The Constitutional Tribunal was established in 1982 and began its adjudicative activity four years later. Its primary task is the judicial review of the constitutionality of law, including examining the compliance of lower-ranking norms with the Constitution. In recent years, this body has been at the center of a political dispute concerning the method of appointing judges and the publication of rulings. Timeline for CT judge selection: March 11 — Presidium recommendation; March 12 — Committee session; March 13 — Plenary vote

Parallel to parliamentary procedures, the latest public opinion polls have been published, indicating a sustained polarization of the political scene. An Opinia24 poll for Rzeczpospolita gives the Civic Coalition 34% support, while Law and Justice records 29%. Meanwhile, a CBOS poll points to a slightly larger gap between the leaders, giving the ruling formation 31% and the main opposition party 24%. In both rankings, Confederation is on the podium, obtaining between 11% and 13% of the vote. Attention is drawn to the projected turnout, which according to some researchers may approach a record level. 80 (percent) — projected electoral turnout according to the Opinia24 poll Opinia24 Poll (03.12.2026): Civic Coalition: 34, Law and Justice: 29, Confederation: 11, Third Way: 10, The Left: 8