President Nawrocki Challenges "Lex Charlatan" Bill at Constitutional Court

President Karol Nawrocki has escalated a political dispute over healthcare regulation by sending the controversial "lex charlatan" (colloquial term for the bill targeting fraudulent alternative medicine practitioners) to Poland's Constitutional Tribunal (Trybunał Konstytucyjny) for preventive constitutional review. The move comes amid broader tensions between the presidency and the ruling Civic Platform government over judicial independence and legislative authority.

The Bill's Aims and Controversy

The legislation, formally a bill on regulating practitioners of alternative and complementary medicine, seeks to establish stricter licensing, transparency, and accountability requirements for practitioners offering unproven or potentially harmful treatments. Proponents argue the measure protects consumers from fraud and dangerous practices. However, opponents—including the president—have raised constitutional concerns.

Nawrocki's decision to invoke preventive review (kontrola prewencyjna) means the Constitutional Court will assess whether the bill complies with Poland's constitution before it can take effect, even if parliament has already passed it.

Broader Context

The move reflects the ongoing power struggle between the opposition-aligned president (elected in 2025 with Law and Justice backing) and the government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Over the past year, disputes over judicial appointments, legislative scope, and executive authority have defined Polish politics. Nawrocki has also indicated he will propose his own alternative legislation on the issue.

For expats in Poland: Healthcare regulations and consumer protections affect anyone seeking medical services here. If you use alternative practitioners, remain aware of changing legal requirements and ensure providers operate within current law. Consider consulting official healthcare directories before engaging unregulated practitioners.

Sources

• TVN24 — Recent coverage