Duda, currently in London, told a press conference that the matter was "regrettable and distasteful," and deplored the delays in the court's work caused by the internal dispute.
Marcin Obara/PAP

Andrzej Duda, the Polish president, has said he is disgusted with the ongoing conflict at Poland’s constitutional court.

Duda, currently in London, told a press conference that the matter was “regrettable and distasteful,” and deplored the delays in the court’s work caused by the internal dispute.

“All conflicts in the Constitutional Tribunal are regrettable and distasteful. They should be done away with, and in no way impact the tribunal’s work. This is absolutely fundamental,” Duda said.

Poland’s constitutional court has been in a stalemate since several of its judges refused to hear cases in protest against the continued tenure of the court’s president, Julia Przyłębska, whose term of office, they say, has expired.

The refusals to adjudicate have deprived the court of the judicial quorum required for hearings, which has practically immobilised the court.The clinch is delaying a ruling on new judicial legislation designed to unlock Poland’s access to a multi-billion EU post-pandemic recovery fund, which the EU has blocked for Poland on rule of law grounds related to the Polish government’s earlier justice reforms.

Poland’s ruling party, the conservative Law and Justice (PiS), has prepared a bill lowering the constitutional court’s quorum requirements. The act is currently in the Sejm (lower parliamentary house).