Financial Times urges Tusk to fight PiS-era changes to Poland's Constitutional Tribunal by the rules

In brief

• The Financial Times editorial argues that reversing PiS-era changes to the Constitutional Tribunal must follow legal procedure.
• The paper warns that bypassing constitutional procedures could set a precedent for future illiberal leaders.
• The editorial calls for a tribunal trusted by both sides of Poland's political divide and suggests a compromise between President Karol Nawrocki and the government.

Editorial warning on procedure

The Financial Times has argued in an editorial that efforts to undo changes made under the Law and Justice (PiS) government must be carried out within the rules. The paper said bypassing constitutional procedures carries a serious risk ("Financial Times" upomina Donalda Tuska ws TK. "Walka musi być prowadzona zgodnie z regułami" – Dziennik.pl) ("Financial Times" ostrzega polski rząd w sprawie TK. "Kluczowy test dla koalicji Tuska" – Dziennik.pl). It said Poland had reached an extraordinary institutional impasse ("Financial Times": Nietrudno współczuć rządowi Tuska – Wirtualna Polska).

Sympathy for the government, limits on its methods

The newspaper said it was not hard to sympathise with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's position, given the stalemate over the tribunal. It nonetheless said shortcuts would set a precedent that future illiberal leaders could exploit (Inwestorzy potrzebują stabilnych instytucji. „Financial Times” ostrzega Polskę – Bankier.pl). The editorial described the dilemma as one between defending democratic norms and respecting their own legal framework.

A tribunal both sides can trust

According to the paper, Poland needs a Constitutional Tribunal that commands trust from both sides of a deep political split („FT” o sytuacji w polskim TK: Nietrudno współczuć Donaldowi Tuskowi – Rzeczpospolita). It also pointed to a possible compromise between President Karol Nawrocki and the government as a way out of the deadlock.

Why it matters

The editorial frames the dispute as a test for Tusk's coalition.