01.11.2026 01:40
The crisis between the government and the presidency in Poland over the Constitutional Tribunal is growing. Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused President Karol Nawrocki and the opposition Law and Justice Party of obstructing the functioning of the judiciary. Reacting to the events in front of the Constitutional Tribunal, Tusk said, "We will not step back in the face of lawlessness and violence," emphasizing that they are determined to protect an independent and democratic Poland.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated regarding the dispute with President Karol Nawrocki over the structure and functioning of the Constitutional Tribunal that they will not back down in the face of lawlessness and violence and are determined to protect an independent, democratic Poland.
Prime Minister Tusk shared a video message on his social media accounts regarding the crisis that erupted in the country after the removal of Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Swieczkowski and Deputy President Bartlomiej Sochanski from their duties.
“I VERY MUCH WISH NEVER TO ENCOUNTER SIMILAR SCENES AGAIN”
Noting that they witnessed “shameful” events in front of the Constitutional Tribunal building yesterday, Tusk said, “I very much wish never to encounter similar scenes in Poland again, but the way to ensure peace cannot be to back down in the face of lawlessness and violence.”
Tusk argued that the opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS), former President Andrzej Duda and current President Karol Nawrocki have “attacked the Constitutional Tribunal and its judges” as a new stage of the process of destroying the rule of law in Poland.
Drawing attention to the fact that a democratic state must be strong and have the capacity to administer justice, Tusk stated that police intervened calmly but firmly against any sign of aggression.
“THE PRESIDENT PREVENTED THE JUDGES FROM TAKING UP THEIR DUTIES”
Tusk noted that the government, together with its parliamentary majority, made attempts to fix the court, but these attempts were blocked by the president and PiS.
Tusk stated that judges lawfully elected in the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament, took their oaths, but President Nawrocki refused to accept their oaths, and alleged that Swieczkowski also prevented those judges from taking up their duties.
Arguing that judges who decided to perform their duties after weeks of waiting were attacked, Tusk stressed that police protected the Constitutional Tribunal from the attackers.
Tusk stated that there are political forces in Poland seeking to destroy democracy and the rule of law, and alleged that these circles receive support from pro-Russian forces and have benefited from Russian bot armies on the internet in the current process.
“WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN OUT OF FEAR”
Stating that they will not back down in order to protect an independent and democratic Poland, Tusk said, “We waited a very long time to obtain a treasure such as an independent and democratic Poland; we will not back down out of fear. We Poles have succeeded very well in building a strong state, and we will not surrender it.”
Tusk, conveying that he is sure the Constitutional Tribunal will begin to function as it should, said, “Poland is strong, democratic and determined. It has not been destroyed and will not be.”
Meanwhile, President Nawrocki, stating that the constitutional order has been violated at the Constitutional Tribunal and that a constitutional organ of the state has been seized by force, is holding talks with representatives of political forces in parliament with the aim of stabilizing the political situation and restoring the constitutional order.
CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL CRISIS
On October 30, an announcement was published on the website of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal regarding the removal of Tribunal President Swieczkowski and Deputy President Sochanski from their duties.
Following the developments, many people, including opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and former Constitutional Tribunal President Julia Przylebska, gathered in front of the Constitutional Tribunal building, and the court building was placed under police blockade.
Police reported that 3 people were detained after some protesters climbed over the court’s fences and others threw various objects at police officers.
After the announcement that Swieczkowski and his deputy had been removed from their duties, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, the most senior judge of the Constitutional Tribunal, claimed that she had taken over the court’s administration.
The plane of President Nawrocki, which had taken off to go to Senegal, returned to Poland via Spain because of the events at the Constitutional Tribunal. According to data from the flight tracking platform Flightradar24, more than 1 million people tracked Nawrocki’s return flight.
A scuffle occurred between Nawrocki, who came to the Constitutional Tribunal building, and court members while Nawrocki was trying to enter the building.
Poland’s Ambassador to Beijing Jakub Kumoch and Ambassador to Bucharest Pawel Soloch resigned in reaction to the constitutional crisis in the country.
The police blockade around the court building continues.
IN POLAND, THE OPPOSITION WANTS TO BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT WITH A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
Former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Rozwoj Plus formation Mateusz Morawiecki announced that they would submit a motion of no confidence against the government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
While there are 460 seats in the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament, the opposition needs 231 votes to bring down the government.
Since the coalition government led by Tusk has 239 seats in the Sejm, the opposition must persuade at least one party from the five-party coalition for a vote of no confidence.