Court crisis sparks anger in Poland

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, November 1, 2026

Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Swieczkowski was suspended by judges aligned with the pro-European government, triggering protests led by nationalist opposition figures and escalating the country’s constitutional crisis. The deadlock has paralyzed the court amid accusations of political interference on both sides, raising tensions ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections and prompting calls for urgent political negotiations.

WARSAW — Poland is experiencing a deepening constitutional crisis following the suspension of the head of its Constitutional Tribunal, sparking protests and heightened political tensions between the country’s pro-European government and its nationalist opposition.

The crisis escalated late Friday when a group of government-backed judges, led by the tribunal’s longest-serving judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, suspended Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Swieczkowski. Swieczkowski, appointed during the previous government led by the right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS), has been a contentious figure, accused by the current administration of obstructing the installation of judges lawfully appointed by the parliament majority. Korwin-Piotrowska’s suspension of Swieczkowski was announced on the tribunal’s website, which is now under the control of judges aligned with the current administration.

The move prompted immediate unrest, with several hundred protesters gathering outside the court building. Many were supporters of PiS, including former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and other right-wing politicians, demanding Swieczkowski's reinstatement. The demonstrations saw clashes with police forces, who detained three protesters following attempts to breach the security perimeter.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki, an ally of the former nationalist government and elected with PiS support, cut short a trip to Senegal to return to Warsaw. He entered the Constitutional Tribunal amidst the protests, describing the suspension as a "breach of Poland’s constitutional order" and accusing Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government of executing a "forcible takeover" of the court. Nawrocki called for urgent political consultations involving all parliamentary parties in an effort to defuse the crisis.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European coalition, which took office in 2023 promising to restore judicial independence, views the suspension as a necessary, though difficult, step to reverse years of PiS influence over the judiciary. Tusk argued that the Constitutional Tribunal under PiS had been unlawfully stacked with judges, undermining the court’s impartiality and independence. "Restoring the rule of law is our duty," Tusk wrote on social media, acknowledging the complexity and pain involved in the process.

Swieczkowski, who served as a deputy justice minister under PiS, has refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new judges appointed by the pro-government majority parliament. His supporters continue to control some official tribunal channels, including the court’s social media accounts, which have accused the pro-government judges of conducting a "coup d’état."

The dispute reflects a broader political struggle that has persisted since 2015, when PiS began making controversial judicial appointments. The European Union has also criticized PiS for undermining judicial independence, leading to fines and legal challenges. Conversely, PiS and its allies argue that external bodies, including EU institutions, lack jurisdiction over Poland’s internal judicial affairs.

The stalemate has effectively paralyzed the Constitutional Tribunal, with competing factions refusing to recognize each other’s authority. With parliamentary elections scheduled for next year, both sides face mounting pressure to resolve the deadlock as the country grapples with a constitutional impasse that threatens judicial and political stability.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.