Poland's Constitutional Court Crisis Deepens as President Convenes Emergency Talks

Poland’s political stability is under strain following the sudden suspension of the Constitutional Tribunal’s chief judge, an action that has escalated a long-standing dispute over the independence of the country’s top court.

President Karol Nawrocki convened urgent consultations at the presidential palace on Saturday to address what he described as a threat to internal security. Representatives from nationalist and far-right factions, along with members of the governing coalition, attended the meeting. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s centrist Civic Coalition party did not participate.

The crisis stems from the Friday suspension of Bogdan Swieczkowski, a judge appointed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party during its tenure from 2015 to 2023. Tusk argued that Swieczkowski used his position to block parliament from electing new judges, calling the removal a necessary step to restore the rule of law after years of erosion.

Tusk addressed the public on Saturday evening, accusing conservative nationalist opponents of attempting to destroy democracy and the rule of law. He stated, "Let’s call things by their name. For years in Poland there exist organisations and politicians who wish to destroy democracy and rule of law." The Prime Minister maintained that the court’s judges were not politically neutral and that their decisions often favored Polish legislation over European Union law.

In response, the Constitutional Tribunal’s official account on the social media platform X labeled the government's action a "coup d'etat." Protests outside the court continued on Saturday, with followers of PiS gathering in support of judges aligned with their party. These demonstrations extend a series of protests that have occurred over several weeks.

Nawrocki, a right-wing figure who has previously blocked court nominations, reported that no breakthrough had occurred by Saturday afternoon. The European Commission urged the President to accept nominations for new judges at the center of the crisis, according to the AFP news agency.

Tom Rose, the US Ambassador to Poland, called for calm from all sides on social media. He warned that the last thing Poland needs is a confrontation that spirals into something far worse, highlighting the diplomatic attention the dispute is drawing.