Sejm Speaker Marek Kuchciński met today with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland, who is visiting Poland. The talks concerned, among other things, the need to work out a political agreement in Poland in connection with the dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal and the steps taken so far to resolve it.
A way out of this situation, as Speaker Kuchciński pointed out, is sought on the basis of the Constitution and constitutional values. The Speaker of the Sejm spoke about the initiatives taken so far, in particular about the meeting of the heads of all political parties organized in the Sejm and the creation of the Group of Experts on the Issues of the Constitutional Tribunal. Marek Kuchciński explained that the team brings together a group of experts and practitioners to help find solutions to the problems that have arisen. - I decided that the best solution would be to appoint an independent team of experts who will present an in-depth analysis, recommendation and "recipe" for the current situation, taking into account, among others, the opinion of the Venice Commission - he said.
According to the Speaker of the Sejm, the coordinator of the Team is Prof. Jan Majchrowski, PhD, professor of law, who for many years also worked in the Constitutional Tribunal, including as an advisor to the President of the Tribunal, and was also an expert of the Council of Europe. Prof. Majchrowski, who was present at the meeting, explained that the Team wants to prepare a legal basis for conflict resolution by politicians. He said that in its work the Team follows the final conclusions of the Venice Commission, which it addressed at its first meeting. - We do not want to evaluate the opinion of the Venice Commission, we want to use it - he noted. He stressed that the team will prepare proposals of such legal solutions which could find the widest possible acceptance among political decision-makers. Their implementation will belong to the world of politics.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland assured of his support for the process of working out an agreement by all parties in the dispute. He stressed that by appointing an apolitical expert team, the Speaker of the Sejm has laid the foundation for seeking a political consensus in Poland. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe recognized the meeting of the leaders of political parties organized in the Sejm as a good step. The head of the Council of Europe emphasized the importance of the consensus on the basic principles of the functioning of the state and the clash of political influences. - Such a consensus requires time and dialogue, including with civil society, so that the results of this dialogue are acceptable to all - he said.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe also emphasized that Poland is a respected member of the Council of Europe, observing the European Convention on Human Rights, and our country's involvement in supporting Ukraine is highly appreciated. - I believe that Poland will come out of the problems and will be a good example for other countries - he assessed.
text: sejm.gov.pl
