The Neutralization of Constitutional Courts in Illiberal-Populist Regimes. An Analysis From the Cases of Hungary and Poland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/rdp.116.2023.37160Keywords:
Constitutional courts, populism, illiberal regimes, neutralization, alternative models of constitutional justiceAbstract
This article analyzes the relationship between illiberal-populist regimes and constitutional courts, based on the cases of Hungary and Poland. These case studies show that constitutional courts operating in an illiberal-populist regime can quickly turn from targets of the Government into important allies of the majority in power. At that point, the reasoning of these bodies can very often resemble the rhetoric of populist forces. Another important lesson offered by the analysis of the Hungarian and Polish cases is that the possible solutions that have been put forward, from a constitutional design perspective (especially with regard to the appointment processes and composition of constitutional courts, as well as the adoption of alternative models of constitutional justice), to prevent, or at least hinder, the capture of constitutional review bodies by illiberal-populist regimes, do have some strengths, but also evident weaknesses.
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