Politics · Other · 19 mins ago
Police guard Poland’s top court amid dispute over its leadership
Polish police guarded the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw after a dispute over who controls the court escalated into protests.
The court’s president, Bogdan Swieczkowski, was reported suspended for a month, while judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska was put in temporary charge.
The disagreement is part of a wider clash between Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European government and the national-conservative Law and Justice party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023.
Tusk says his government must restore judicial independence, while opponents say the suspension is unlawful and threatens the constitutional order.
Police said three people were detained after some protesters tried to enter the court grounds and objects were thrown at officers.
President Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by Law and Justice, turned his plane back to Poland while travelling to Senegal.
The dispute matters because Poland’s court reforms have drawn criticism from European institutions, and the government’s efforts to change the judiciary have faced presidential vetoes.
Police cordoned off Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw on October 30 amid a dispute over the court’s leadership.
The court’s president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and his deputy were reported suspended, prompting protests and competing claims about the legality of the move.
Police said they detained three people after some protesters tried to breach the court’s fence and others threw objects at officers.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said restoring the rule of law required decisive action, while opposition politicians called the events a coup.
President Karol Nawrocki cut short his trip to Senegal and returned to Poland.
The dispute is part of a months-long conflict between Tusk’s government and the opposition Law and Justice party over judicial appointments and the court’s legitimacy.
- Who
- Poland’s government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the opposition Law and Justice party are at odds over the Constitutional Tribunal.
- What
- Police secured the court as protests followed reports that its president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and his deputy had been suspended.
- When
- October 30, 2026.
- Where
- The Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw, Poland.
- Why
- The sides dispute the court’s leadership, judicial appointments and legitimacy.
Tusk’s government
Law and Justice party and its supporters
Court legitimacy
Tusk’s government
The government says the tribunal’s legitimacy is undermined by judges appointed under Law and Justice.
Law and Justice party and its supporters
Law and Justice politicians say the suspension is an attack on the constitutional order and have called for resistance.
Suspension
Tusk’s government
Tusk says restoring the rule of law requires decisive action.
Law and Justice party and its supporters
Opponents describe the events as a coup and say the suspension is unlawful.
Judicial appointments
Tusk’s government
The government says judges elected by the current parliamentary majority should be allowed to take their posts.
Law and Justice party and its supporters
President Karol Nawrocki has refused to swear in judges, citing alleged flaws in their selection procedure.
The Law and Justice party led Poland and changed the composition of the Constitutional Tribunal.
Donald Tusk’s pro-European government came to power, promising to restore judicial independence.
President Nawrocki refused to swear in three judges elected by parliament, according to Demócrata.
The court’s website published information that Święczkowski had been suspended.
Police cordoned off the court as protesters gathered; police said three people were detained.
Nawrocki cut short his trip to Senegal and returned to Poland.
- Court
- Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal
- Location
- Warsaw
- Court president
- Bogdan Święczkowski
- Deputy
- Bartłomiej Sochański
- Detentions
- Police said three people were detained
- Reported suspension
- The president and deputy were reported suspended on October 30
7 sources
Zoff um Richter eskaliert - Menschenmenge will Polens höchstes Gericht stürmen!
Riot police deployed to Poland's top court amid claims of 'coup' over suspension of chief judge in battle between Donald Tusk's centrist government and nationalist right
Poland’s constitutional court chief suspended amid escalating judicial standoff between Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the opposition
Полиция оцепила здание Конституционного трибунала в Польше. Видео
Police secure Poland's Constitutional Tribunal as protests erupt over court chief's suspension
Police deployed during stand-off over control of top Poland court
Extension | The Police surrounds the Polish Constitutional Court amid the crisis over control of the court
What people are saying
Restoring the rule of law is our obligation
At a moment like this, the President must be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am returning
This is a blatant, criminal attack on the constitutional order
All persons participating in these actions are committing the crime of a coup d'etat