Political Accountability and Rule of Law

No authority can be unlimited.

These mechanisms are not an obstacle to democracy, they are

a safeguard. And that is why they must never be

subordinated to an immediate

political need. The rule of law, ladies and gentlemen, however

each of us understands it. And this

rule of law cannot be restored by methods that

themselves flagrantly violate the law.

I described these government actions, ladies and gentlemen,

before the main discussion began,

so that we would all be aware of our constitutional position

we find ourselves in. However, it is impossible not to identify

the person responsible for

this whole situation. Full responsibility for every

police officer before the Tribunal, for all the illegal

actions, such as suspending judges, illegal orders,

entering the Tribunal through the chancellery of the prime minister

One man bears responsibility. A man,

who is present in this chamber, and whom I smile at, though I don't understand his actions,

I don't accept them, and I oppose them.

And so, Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Mr. Prime Minister, in your case,

in my view, this is not only a crime against the Constitution

of the Republic of Poland. It's something more, a mistake.

The Prime Minister already knows he made a mistake, and

we both also know that today, the earlier allies

are no longer by your side, and you have been left with

only violence, which is just as troubling.

To bring his ideological fiction to life, the

Prime Minister is damaging Poland's image abroad, which is also the subject of

uh, public discussion in various parts of the world.

He scares off investors, undermines the foundations of social ties and

social trust. When people can't get to a doctor,

Fuel prices at gas stations are unacceptable.

Though my signature on the bill was meant to create

a situation in which these prices would be appropriate.

That did not happen.

These prices are still inappropriate. When the debt reaches record

levels that threaten the stability of the state.

On the eve of a holiday, the prime minister decides to forcibly

take over an independent institution of the Polish state.

That is not how democrats behave.

Dear Prime Minister. I want to tell the Prime Minister

and all of you

today at the National Security Council that, of course, I will not

simply let this pass.

I will use all the prerogatives available to me, as well as

the legitimacy and mandate given to me by

the public to stop this attempt to overturn the constitutional order

of the Republic of Poland.

Mercy, of course, calls for forgiveness.

I am a merciful person, but of course, before forgiveness,

ladies and gentlemen, one must confess one's sins and also repent.

And one must take back those images that, thanks to the prime minister,

the whole world saw. I expect you, Mr. Prime Minister,

to come to your senses, make amends, and return matters

concerning Poland to the Poles. Independence Day

is ahead of us. I expect that before then, before the start of the week in

which we will celebrate together as a nation, you, Mr. Prime Minister, will be

ready to rein in your government's power and

put an end to the illegal

actions of your representatives in the building of the Constitutional

Tribunal.