31.10.2026 12:12
The crisis, which began in Poland with the suspension of the President of the Constitutional Court and his deputy, grew with President Karol Nawrocki's intervention in the court building. Nawrocki, who cut short his visit to Africa and returned to his country, entered the building after scuffling with the acting court president who tried to stop him. The President's exit, during which he called out to the judges inside, "You are not Constitutional Court judges!", was captured on camera.
The long-running political tension in Poland over judicial appointments has been taken to a new level by a dismissal decision at the Constitutional Tribunal.
After President Karol Nawrocki, Tribunal President Bogdan Swieczkowski and Deputy President Bartlomiej Sochanski were temporarily suspended from their duties, Nawrocki cut short his visit to Senegal and returned to the capital, Warsaw.
After meetings at the Presidential Palace, Nawrocki went to the Constitutional Tribunal building, where at the entrance he came face to face with acting tribunal president Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who tried to stop him.
The argument between the two turned into a brief scuffle. After the commotion, Nawrocki entered the building and confronted Korwin-Piotrowska and other judges.
"SIR, YOU CANNOT ENTER"
During the tension at the entrance to the tribunal building, President Nawrocki was heard telling Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who was trying to block him, "Please step aside."
Korwin-Piotrowska, in turn, tried to stop the President and replied, "Sir, you cannot enter."
Nawrocki then reacted by saying, "Please let me go."
After the brief scuffle, the President was seen entering the building. First President of the Supreme Court Zbigniew Kapinski and Constitutional Tribunal Deputy President Bartlomiej Sochanski, whose suspension had been announced, were also among those who entered the building.
PRESIDENT STORMS THE SUPREME COURT: YOU ARE NOT JUDGES
The President challenged the legitimacy of judges elected by the Tusk government's parliamentary majority, saying:
"This is a judge who takes instructions by phone. You have no legal basis whatsoever. You have no authority either to dismiss or to appoint. You are not Constitutional Tribunal judges!"
After these words, Nawrocki was seen heading toward the stairs.
SUSPENSION CRISIS AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL
The crisis was sparked by a decision to suspend Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Swieczkowski and Deputy President Bartlomiej Sochanski from their duties for one month.
In the announcement published on the tribunal's website at around 18:00 local time, it was stated that the two had been temporarily suspended on the grounds that they obstructed the tribunal's work.
After the decision, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska announced that she had temporarily taken over the tribunal's administration.
However, Swieczkowski and Sochanski did not accept the legal validity of the suspension decision. President Nawrocki also opposed the decision.
Thus, an open dispute over authority emerged between the two sides over who was in control of the Constitutional Tribunal.
PROTESTERS FLOCKED TO THE TRIBUNAL
After the suspension decision, protests began in front of the Constitutional Tribunal building in the capital, Warsaw.
A large number of people, including Law and Justice (PiS) party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and former Constitutional Tribunal President Julia Przylebska, gathered in front of the tribunal.
Police teams took extensive security measures around the building. Tension escalated after some protesters climbed over fences and threw various objects at police.
Police intervening in the incidents detained 3 people.
SENEGAL FLIGHT TURNED BACK IN MID-AIR
Due to developments in his country, President Karol Nawrocki decided to cut short his visit to Senegal.
In his statement, Nawrocki said, "At a time like this, the President needs to be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am returning. "
The presidential plane changed course to Poland over Spain. According to Flightradar24 data, more than 1 million people tracked the return flight.
After arriving in Warsaw, Nawrocki met with Bogdan Swieczkowski and First President of the Supreme Court Zbigniew Kapinski at the Presidential Palace, then headed to the Constitutional Tribunal.
PRIME MINISTER TUSK: THERE IS NO OTHER WAY
As political tension increased further with the President's intervention, Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended the government's steps toward the judiciary.
In his statement, Tusk said:
"Our task is to restore the rule of law. After years of lawlessness under PiS rule, this is a difficult and at times painful process, and it requires decisive steps. There is no other way. "
The Tusk government argues that judicial appointments made during the previous government harmed the independence of the courts, while the opposition claims that the government is trying to establish control over the Constitutional Tribunal.
US CALLS FOR RESTRAINT
The political crisis in Poland also resonated internationally.
US Ambassador to Warsaw Tom Rose expressed concern over the developments and called on the parties to exercise restraint.
Rose stressed that the political dispute should not turn into violence and said that the US values Poland's stability, security, and democratic future.
TWO AMBASSADORS RESIGNED
The developments around the Constitutional Tribunal also affected diplomatic missions.
Poland's Ambassador to Bucharest, Pawel Soloch, resigned from his post, citing developments in the country.
Ambassador to Beijing Jakub Kumoch also announced that he had concluded it was impossible for him to continue his duties after what had happened and that he had submitted his resignation and a request to be relieved of his post.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski reacted sharply to Kumoch's decision.
Sikorski said, "I note that your mission has ended in an unprofessional manner. You no longer represent the Republic of Poland. "
JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS LIE AT THE ROOT OF THE CRISIS
At the root of the tension in Poland is a long-running dispute over the appointment of Constitutional Tribunal members and the start of their duties.
Bogdan Swieczkowski, who was elected as a Constitutional Tribunal judge in February 2022, was appointed tribunal president by then-President Andrzej Duda on December 9, 2024.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Swieczkowski of preventing the new judges elected by the parliamentary majority from taking up their duties.
The government led by Tusk had promised to restore judicial independence when it came to power in 2023. However, the dispute over the status of the new judges continued between the Presidency and the government.
The legal validity of the latest suspension decisions also remains disputed. The President's entering the court building, confronting the judges, and the protests further deepened the constitutional crisis in the country.
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