"I refuse to nominate 46 judges. This is no longer just a verbal signal, but a concrete decision not to grant nominations," said President Karol Nawrocki in a statement to the media.

"I will also not grant promotions to those judges who question the constitutional and legal order of the Republic, to those judges who listen to the bad advice of the Minister of Justice, Waldemar Żurek, who encourages judges to question the constitutional and legal order of the Republic," he continued.

"I am honest in fulfilling this declaration, because as early as August 6th, when I was sworn in as President of the Republic, I gave [...] a verbal statement regarding how I would proceed in these matters," he went on.

"I clearly stated that for the next 5 years, judges who question the constitutional and legal order of the Republic of Poland cannot count on a promotion, if it depends on the president, nor on a judicial nomination," he added.

"These were words. Three months have passed since my words and my warnings to the judges of the Republic not to succumb to the madness that Minister of Justice is perpetrating. Today, these are no longer just words, but concrete decisions. Therefore, we are returning judicial nominations, withholding consent. For the next 5 years, no judge who questions the constitutional powers of the president, the Polish Constitution, and the Polish legal system can count on a nomination," he emphasized.