Violations of the principles of the democratic state of law and the rule of law by the government of Donald Tusk after December 13, 2023
On December 13, 2023, a political experiment called "militant democracy" by Prime Minister Donald Tusk began in Poland. The new center-left coalition government, acting on the basis of ad hoc parliamentary resolutions and informal guidelines, created a revolutionary order of "transitional justice" that itself became an instrument of arbitrary power.
After losing the presidential election on June 2, 2025, Prime Minister Tusk announced the continuation of existing practices, declaring he would govern "with a president attempting to block good changes." The report documents systemic violations including the right to life, freedom of religion, the right to a fair trial, and freedom of assembly. The authors present both constitutional violations in relations between constitutional state organs and direct infringements of citizens' freedoms and rights.
This publication, enhanced with source documents and QR codes leading to the Rule of Law Observer portal, serves as a guide to facts that those in power prefer to pass over in silence. The report proves that when the authorities call their lawlessness "restoring the rule of law" and their fight against the will of the majority of citizens "militant democracy," the idea of the rule of law ceases to be a legal concept and becomes a political hostage.
Graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Łódź, Doctor of Law, Vice President of the Hipolit Cegielski Center for Legal, Economic and Social Analyses, and board member of the Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture. Deputy editor-in-chief of the law journal Kultura Prawna. Speaker at international and domestic academic conferences. He is the author of dozens of academic publications, including three monographs, as well as dozens of analyses and legal opinions, reports and guides. Graduate of leadership programs in law, management and NGO operation.
Graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw and postgraduate student researching the investment and construction process for lawyers at the Łazarski University’s School of Ukrainian Law. An attorney at the Warsaw Bar Association, he serves as a senior analyst at the Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture, specializing in civic matters, the protection of life, the sanctity of marriage, and the institution of the family. He has published in the quarterly magazines Civitas Christiana and Polityka Narodowa, the weekly Do Rzeczy, the daily Rzeczpospolita, and on the Catholic website PCh24.pl.
Graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw (graduated with honors) and postgraduate student researching “Polish Personnel for the EU.” Senior analyst at the Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture, he coordinates the “Liberty and the Rule of Law” program. He gained experience working, among other roles, as Chief Specialist in the Office of the Ombudsman for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises. His academic publications primarily focus on the subject of subsidiarity.
Act of December 8, 2017 on amending the Act on the National Council of the Judiciary and certain other acts (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 3).
Act of January 5, 2011 – Electoral Code (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 365).
Act of January 24, 2025 on special solutions regarding the consideration by the Supreme Court of cases related to the election of the President of the Republic of Poland and by-elections to the Senate of the Republic of Poland scheduled for 2025, https://orka.sejm.gov.pl/opinie10.nsf/nazwa/923_u/$file/923_u.pdf, accessed: May 24, 2025.
Act of January 26, 1984 – Press Law (Journal of Laws of 1984, No. 5, item 24).
Act of January 26, 2024 on amending the Act on the National Center for Research and Development and the Act – Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 227).
Act of January 28, 2016 – Law on the Prosecutor's Office (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 390 as amended).
Act of July 12, 2024 on amending the Act on the National Council of the Judiciary, https://orka.sejm.gov.pl/opinie10.nsf/nazwa/219_u/$file/219_u.pdf, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Act of June 6, 1997 – Criminal Code (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 383).
Act of September 13, 2024 – Provisions introducing the Act on the Constitutional Tribunal, https://orka.sejm.gov.pl/opinie10.nsf/nazwa/254_u/$file/254_u.pdf, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Act of September 13, 2024 on the Constitutional Tribunal, https://orka.sejm.gov.pl/opinie10.nsf/nazwa/253_u/$file/253_u.pdf, accessed: June 2, 2025.
Adam Bodnar accuses the March of Independence of promoting "Nazism". The Association issued a statement, Narodowcy.net, May 24, 2024, https://narodowcy.net/adam-bodnar-zarzuca-marszowi-niepodleglosci-promowanie-nazizmu-stowarzyszenie-wydalo-oswiadczenie/, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Announcement regarding findings concerning the questioning of witness Ms. Barbara Skrzypek in the so-called "two towers" case, Gov.pl, March 17, 2025, https://www.gov.pl/web/po-warszawa/komunikat-odnosnie-ustalen-dot-przesluchania-swiadek-pani-barbary-skrzypek-w-sprawie-tzw-dwoch-wiez, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Announcement regarding the proper treatment of Fr. Michał O., Public Information Bulletin of the Ombudsman, December 23, 2024, https://bip.brpo.gov.pl/pl/content/komunikat-sprawa-ks-michala-o-brpo, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Appointment of the Disciplinary Spokesman of the Ministry of Justice and suspension of Deputy Prosecutor General Michał Ostrowski, Gov.pl, February 11, 2025, https://www.gov.pl/web/prokuratura-krajowa/powolanie-rzecznika-dyscyplinarnego-ms-i-zawieszenie-zpg-michala-ostrowskiego, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Bałazy B., Media in Poland [in:] B. Bałazy, Ł. Bernaciński, Functioning of the media market in Poland and other selected European countries. Combating capital concentration and protecting media pluralism, Warsaw 2021.
Bernaciński Ł., Legal opinion on the compliance with law of the regulation of the Minister of Education amending the regulation on the conditions and manner of organizing religious education in public preschools and schools (version of September 30, 2024), "Legal Culture" 2024, No. 7.
Bernaciński Ł., Media pluralism and pluralism in the media [in:] B. Bałazy, Ł. Bernaciński, Functioning of the media market in Poland and other selected European countries. Combating capital concentration and protecting media pluralism, Warsaw 2021.
Brzozowski W., Gradability of constitutional violations, "Legal, Economic and Sociological Movement" 2017, No. 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.14746/rpeis.2017.79.4.1.
Budget Act for 2025 of January 9, 2025 (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 63).
CDL-AD(2024)029-e, Poland – Joint Opinion of the Venice Commission and the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law on European standards regulating the status of judges, adopted by the Venice Commission at its 140th Plenary Session (Venice, October 11–12, 2024), https://venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2024)029-e, accessed: May 23, 2025.
CDL-AD(2024)035-e, Poland – Opinion on the draft constitutional amendments concerning the Constitutional Tribunal and two laws on the Constitutional Tribunal, adopted by the Venice Commission at its 141st Plenary Session (Venice, December 6–7, 2024), https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2024)035-e, accessed: May 23, 2025.
CDL-PI(2024)009-e, Poland – Urgent Joint Opinion of the Venice Commission and the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe on the draft law amending the Law on the National Council of the Judiciary of Poland, https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-PI(2024)009, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Chybalski P., The problem of so-called legislative silence in electoral law in light of the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Tribunal [in:] Constitutional judiciary. Theory and practice. Volume II, ed. M. Granat, Warsaw 2019.
Coalition agreement, https://platforma.org/upload/document/203/attachments/433/UmowaKoalicyjna.pdf, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Constitution of the Republic of Poland of April 2, 1997 (Journal of Laws No. 78, item 483 as amended).
Content of the letter from the Minister of Finance to the National Electoral Commission, Gov.pl, January 9, 2025, https://www.gov.pl/web/finanse/tresc-pisma-ministra-finansow-do-pkw, accessed: May 24, 2025.
Criminal Code. Commentary, ed. R.A. Stefański, 7th ed., Warsaw 2025.
Criminal Code. Special part. Commentary to articles 117–221. Volume I, ed. M. Królikowski, R. Zawłocki, 5th ed., Warsaw 2023.
Decision No. DR-89/2024 of the Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council of July 2, 2024, http://www.archiwum.krrit.gov.pl/KoncesjeSync/Decyzje/873a2024-t/DR-892024.pdf, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Decision of the Constitutional Tribunal of August 30, 2024, ref. No. U 10/24, https://www.sn.pl/sites/Serwis_WWW/SiteAssets/Lists/Wydarzenia/AllItems/postanowienie%20TK%20U%2010-24.pdf, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Decision of the President of the Capital City of Warsaw of October 14, 2024, No. WV/5310/ZG/5/2024.
Decision of the President of the Republic of Poland of August 17, 2024, No. 1131.18.2024 on designating the chairman of the assembly of judges of the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court, Official Journal of 2024, item 799.
Decision of the Supreme Court of December 11, 2024, ref. No. I NSW 55/24.
Decision of the Supreme Court of January 4, 2024, ref. No. I NSW 1268/23.
Decision of the Supreme Court of January 5, 2024, ref. No. I NSW 1267/23.
Disciplinary proceedings against judges of the National Council of the Judiciary, Gov.pl, April 4, 2025, https://www.gov.pl/web/sprawiedliwosc/postepowanie-dyscyplinarne-wobec-sedziow-krajowej-rady-sadownictwa, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Donald Tusk: There will be investigative commissions – press conference, November 21, 2023, recording on YouTube channel: Donald Tusk – official channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eL0Ov5T2pc, 48:52–49:15, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Draft law on restoring constitutional order in the judiciary, Gov.pl, April 24, 2025, https://www.gov.pl/web/sprawiedliwosc/projekt-ustawy-o-przywroceniu-ladu-konstytucyjnego-w-sadownictwie, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Guidelines for physicians and medical entities regarding access to the abortion procedure, Gov.pl, August 30, 2024, https://www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/wytyczne-dla-lekarzy-i-podmiotow-leczniczych-ws-dostepu-do-procedury-przerwania-ciazy, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Guidelines on applicable legal provisions regarding access to the abortion procedure, https://www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/wytyczne-w-sprawie-obowiazujacych-przepisow-prawnych-dotyczacych-dostepu-do-procedury-przerwania-ciazy, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Individual voting results, 10th term of the Polish Sejm Session 15 – vote No. 9 (2024-07-12 13:45:21), https://api.sejm.gov.pl/sejm/term10/votings/15/9/pdf, accessed: May 27, 2025.
Information about recognizing the restoration of prosecutor Dariusz Barski to active service as an act performed in violation of regulations, Gov.pl, January 12, 2024, https://www.gov.pl/web/sprawiedliwosc/informacja-o-uznaniu-przywrocenia-prokuratora-dariusza-barskiego-do-sluzby-czynnej-za-akt-dokonany-z-naruszeniem-przepisow, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Information about the search of residential and utility premises at the monastery in Lublin, Gov.pl, December 27, 2024, https://www.gov.pl/web/prokuratura-krajowa/informacja-o-przeszukaniu-pomieszczen-mieszkalnych-i-gospodarczych-w-klasztorze-w-lublinie, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Information regarding the investigation into the death of Ms. Barbara Skrzypek, Gov.pl, March 18, 2025, https://www.gov.pl/web/po-warszawa-praga/informacja-w-sprawie-sledztwa-dotyczacego-smierci-pani-barbary-skrzypek, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of January 18, 2024, ref. No. K 29/23, Journal of Laws of 2024, item 96.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of June 19, 2024, ref. No. K 7/24, OTK ZU A/2024, item 60.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of May 6, 2025, ref. No. K 2/25.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of May 22, 2024, ref. No. U 11/24.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of May 28, 2024, ref. No. U 5/24, OTK ZU A/2024, item 65.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of November 22, 2024, ref. No. SK 13/24, OTK ZU A/2024, item 120.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of November 27, 2024, ref. No. U 10/24, OTK ZU A/2024, item 118.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of October 16, 2024, ref. No. K 2/24, OTK ZU A/2025, item 17.
Judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of October 22, 2020, ref. No. K 1/20, Journal of Laws of 2021, item 175.
Judgment of the District Court in Warsaw, 4th Civil Division of July 3, 2024, ref. No. IV C 306/24.
Judgment of the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw of April 9, 2025, ref. No. VI SA/Wa 2952/24.
Letter from the Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council to the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission of April 14, 2025, ref. No.: KRRiT-077-7/007/25, https://www.gov.pl/web/krrit/pismo-przewodniczacego-krrit-do-przewodniczacego-panstwowej-komisji-wyborczej, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Letter from the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission of February 3, 2025, ref. No.: ZKF.820.2.8.2024, https://pkw.gov.pl/uploaded_files/1739503459_pismo-do-zkf820282024.pdf, accessed: May 24, 2025.
Letter from the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission of January 9, 2025, ref. No.: ZKF.411.2.4.2024, https://pkw.gov.pl/uploaded_files/1736473703_zkf411242024.pdf, accessed: May 24, 2025.
Minister of Justice dismisses Judge Piotr Schab from the function of Disciplinary Spokesman, Gov.pl, April 25, 2025, https://www.gov.pl/web/sprawiedliwosc/minister-sprawiedliwosci-odwoluje-sedziego-piotra-schaba-z-funkcji-rzecznika-dyscyplinarnego, accessed: May 23, 2025.
New solutions regarding changes in the judiciary, Gov.pl, September 6, 2024, https://www.gov.pl/web/sprawiedliwosc/nowe-rozwiazania-dotyczace-zmian-w-sadownictwie, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Niedbała M., Threats to media independence and pluralism [in:] ed. Ł. Bernaciński, M. Niedbała, Functioning of the media in Poland. Threats to media independence and freedom, Warsaw 2023.
Notification of reasonable suspicion of committing a crime, Warsaw, January 31, 2025 – letter from Bogdan Święczkowski, President of the Constitutional Tribunal, to Michał Ostrowski, Deputy Prosecutor General, https://trybunal.gov.pl/fileadmin/content/uroczystosci_spotkania_wizyty/2025/2025_02_11/ZAWIADOMIENIE_O_UZASADNIONYM_PODEJRZENIU_POPELNIENIU_PRZESTEPSTWA.pdf, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Ombudsman: there are no grounds to consider rulings of the Extraordinary Control Chamber as non-existent, Niezależna, April 22, 2025, https://niezalezna.pl/polityka/rzecznik-praw-obywatelskich-nie-ma-podstaw-aby-uznawac-orzeczenia-izby-kontroli-nadzwyczajnej-za-nieistniejace/541843, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Order No. 822/2024 of the President of the Capital City of Warsaw of May 8, 2024 on introducing Standards of equal treatment in the Office of the Capital City of Warsaw, ref. No.: GP-OR.0050.822.2024, https://bip.warszawa.pl/web/prezydent/-/zarzadzenie-nr-822/2024-z-2024-05-08, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Parliamentary bill to amend the Criminal Code Act, Sejm print No. 176 (10th term of the Sejm).
Position of the Minister of Education regarding the Constitutional Tribunal's injunction, Gov.pl, August 30, 2024, https://www.gov.pl/web/edukacja/stanowisko-ministra-edukacji-ws-zabezpieczenia-tk, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Position of the Supreme Court regarding the assembly of judges of the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court, Supreme Court, September 10, 2024, https://www.sn.pl/aktualnosci/SitePages/Wydarzenia.aspx?ItemSID=1022-0dc69815-3ade-42fa-bbb8-549c3c6969c5&ListName=Wydarzenia, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Post on the profile Dariusz Mazur @_Dariusz_Mazur on platform X of April 11, 2025, https://x.com/_Dariusz_Mazur/status/1910729704635596950, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Post on the profile Donald Tusk @donaldtusk on platform X of June 2, 2025, https://x.com/donaldtusk/status/1929598894217855467, accessed: June 3, 2025.
Post on the profile Donald Tusk @donaldtusk on platform X of September 9, 2024, https://x.com/donaldtusk/status/1833124595169214852, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Post on the profile Office of the Prime Minister @PremierRP on platform X of September 10, 2024, https://x.com/PremierRP/status/1833514578077995040, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Przemysław Radzik dismissed from the function of Deputy Disciplinary Spokesman for Judges, Gov.pl, April 4, 2025, https://www.gov.pl/web/sprawiedliwosc/przemyslaw-radzik-odwolany-z-funkcji-zastepcy-rzecznika-dyscyplinarnego-sedziow, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Public assembly, November 11, 2024 2:00:00 PM, https://bip.warszawa.pl/web/stoleczne-centrum-bezpieczenstwa/-/zgromadzenie-publiczne-11-11-2024-14-00-00, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Regulation of the Minister of Education of January 17, 2025 amending the regulation on the conditions and manner of organizing religious education in public preschools and schools (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 66).
Regulation of the Minister of Education of July 26, 2024 amending the regulation on the conditions and manner of organizing religious education in public preschools and schools (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 1158).
Regulation of the Minister of Education of March 22, 2024 amending the regulation on assessing, classifying and promoting students in public schools (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 438).
Regulation of the Minister of Health of May 14, 2024 amending the regulation on general conditions of contracts for providing health care services (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 730).
Resolution No. 162 of the Council of Ministers of December 18, 2024 on counteracting the negative effects of the constitutional crisis in the area of the judiciary (Official Journal of 2024, item 1068).
Resolution No. 2/05/2025 of the College of the Supreme Court of May 7, 2025 on ensuring the proper functioning of the Supreme Court, https://www.sn.pl/sites/Serwis_WWW/SiteAssets/Lists/Acontecimientos/AllItems/Uchwa%C5%82a%20nr%202_05_2025%20-%20w%20sprawie%20zapewnienia%20prawid%C5%82owego%20funkcjonowania%20S%C4%85du%20Najwy%C5%Bcszego.pdf, accessed: May 23, 2025.
Resolution No. 316/2024 of the National Electoral Commission of August 29, 2024 regarding the financial report of the Law and Justice Electoral Committee from the elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland held on October 15, 2023, https://pkw.gov.pl/uploaded_files/1725025956_kw-pis.pdf, accessed: May 24, 2025.
Resolution No. 421/2024 of the National Electoral Commission of December 30, 2024 regarding the financial report of the Law and Justice Electoral Committee from the elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland held on October 15, 2023.
Resolution of the Presidium of the National Council of the Judiciary of December 20, 2023, https://krs.pl/pl/aktualnosci/2331-uchwala-prezydium-krajowej-rady-sadownictwa-z-dnia-20-grudnia-2023-r.html.
Resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of December 19, 2023 on restoring legal order and impartiality and reliability of public media and the Polish Press Agency (Official Journal of 2023, item 1477).
Resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of December 20, 2023 on removing the effects of the constitutional crisis in the context of the systemic position and functions of the National Council of the Judiciary in a democratic state governed by the rule of law (Official Journal of 2023, item 1457).
Resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of December 21, 2023 on indicating members of the National Electoral Commission (Official Journal of 2024, item 28).
Resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of March 6, 2024 on removing the effects of the constitutional crisis of 2015–2023 in the context of the activity of the Constitutional Tribunal (Official Journal of 2024, item 198).
Resolution of the Supreme Court of September 27, 2024, ref. No. I KZP 3/24.
Review of proceedings regarding the possibility of crimes committed against and by participants in marches organized by social organizations active in 2016–2023, Gov.pl, May 14, 2024, https://www.gov.pl/web/prokuratura-krajowa/przeglad-postepowan-dotyczacych-mozliwosci-popelnienia-przestepstw-na-szkode-i-przez-uczestnikow-marszow-organizowanych-przez-organizacje-spoleczne-aktywne-w-latach-2016--2023, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Statement of Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar, Gov.pl, July 17, 2024, https://www.gov.pl/web/sprawiedliwosc/oswiadczenie-ministra-sprawiedliwosci-adama-bodnara, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Stenographic Report from the 1st session of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland on December 21, 2023 (thirteenth day of proceedings), Warsaw 2023.
The Speaker of the Sejm determined the expiration of the mandates of MPs Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, Sejm of the Republic of Poland, December 21, 2023, https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm10.nsf/komunikat.xsp?documentId=4E4F404D8E200C17C1258A8C0049DD47, accessed: May 26, 2025.
Two laws to the Constitutional Tribunal under preventive review procedure, Prezydent.pl, October 7, 2024, https://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/wydarzenia/dwa-wnioski-do-tk-w-trybie-kontroli-prewencyjnej,92504, accessed: June 2, 2025.
Update. Possible attempt to interfere in the election campaign. Following NASK's intervention, Meta blocked advertisements, NASK, May 14, 2025, https://nask.pl/aktualnosci/mozliwa-proba-ingerencji-w-kampanie-wyborcza, accessed: May 24, 2025.
Vote No. 9 at the 15th session of the Sejm on July 12, 2024 at 1:45:21 PM, https://www.sejm.gov.pl/Sejm10.nsf/Glosowanie.xsp?posiedzenie=15&glosowanie=9, accessed: May 27, 2025.
We reveal. Election interference, spots without author and Democracy Action, WP, May 15, 2025, https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/ujawniamy-ingerencja-w-wybory-spoty-bez-autora-i-akcja-demokracja-7156892271278624a, accessed: May 24, 2025.
Zalewski B., Unlawful changes in public media [in:] ed. Ł. Bernaciński, Year of devastation of the rule of law. The most important violations of the rule of law and principles of democracy by Donald Tusk's government, Warsaw 2024.
Downloads
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Journal


