Poland’s Judicial Crisis Deepens: Judge Suspends Court President, Triggering Protests And Coup Allegations

Poland Plunges Into Judicial Crisis As Judge Suspends Tribunal Chief; President Cuts Short Africa Visit

Poland has been plunged into a fresh political and constitutional confrontation after a judge announced the suspension of the president and vice president of the country’s Constitutional Tribunal. The dramatic development on October 30 triggered street protests, a security lockdown around the court and allegations of a coup, prompting President Karol Nawrocki to cut short his overseas visit and return home.

The suspension of Tribunal President Bogdan Swieczkowski and Vice President Bartlomiej Sochanski was announced through a notice published on the court’s website at around 6 pm local time. Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, the longest-serving member of the Tribunal, announced the decision, saying it was necessary to restore the rule of law. She also declared that she would take charge of the institution.

The court’s website reportedly became inaccessible shortly after the announcement, adding to the confusion surrounding the unprecedented move.

President Nawrocki Abandons Senegal Visit
Polish President Karol Nawrocki was travelling to Senegal when the news emerged. He decided to turn his aircraft around and return to Poland, explaining his decision in a post on X.

“At a moment like this, the President must be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am returning,” he wrote.

Security was subsequently tightened around the Constitutional Tribunal, with riot police deployed and barricades erected near the building. Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside, protesting against the suspension. Some protesters chanted slogans targeting Prime Minister Donald Tusk, including “Tusk traitor”.

The Tribunal’s official X account also described the developments as a “coup d’etat”.

Early Saturday, Nawrocki’s chief of staff, Pawel Szefernaker, announced that the president had entered the Constitutional Tribunal building alongside Supreme Court First President Zbigniew Kapinski.

Polish Ambassador To China Resigns
The unfolding crisis also led to a diplomatic fallout. Poland’s Ambassador to China, Jakub Kumoch, announced his resignation, saying the developments in his country had made it impossible for him to continue in his position.

In a statement on X, Kumoch said he had submitted his resignation and requested a formal recall as ambassador.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski responded sharply, describing the conclusion of Kumoch’s diplomatic mission as unprofessional and declaring that he no longer represented Poland.

Sikorski is currently in the United States attending the G20 Summit.

Why Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal Is At The Centre Of The Dispute
The Constitutional Tribunal has been at the centre of a prolonged political and judicial confrontation between Poland’s government and the opposition Law and Justice party (PiS), which governed the country from 2015 to 2023.

During PiS’s tenure, judicial reforms brought accusations from critics in Poland and the European Union that the ruling party was exerting political influence over the country’s courts. The European Union also raised concerns about judicial independence and imposed financial penalties on Poland.

The Tribunal frequently issued rulings favouring Polish legislation over EU legal provisions, further intensifying tensions between Warsaw and Brussels.

Tusk Government Defends Move To Restore Judicial Independence
Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European government took office in 2023, promising to reverse the judicial changes introduced during PiS rule and restore the independence of the judiciary.

However, its efforts have faced resistance from successive presidents aligned with PiS, including Nawrocki, who have vetoed several government initiatives.

The Tusk administration has also been seeking to replace or remove judges appointed during the previous government’s tenure. Swieczkowski, who became head of the Constitutional Tribunal under PiS, has been accused by Tusk of obstructing judges selected by the current parliamentary majority from assuming their positions.

Defending his government’s approach, Tusk wrote on X on Friday that restoring the rule of law was an obligation, describing the process as difficult and sometimes painful but necessary.

He had earlier indicated at Campus Polska in August that his government had developed a plan to ensure that the Tribunal was staffed with judges appointed lawfully, while acknowledging that the approach might not receive universal approval.

PiS Leaders Condemn Suspension, Call For Resistance
The opposition Law and Justice party has strongly criticised the suspension, accusing the government of undermining Poland’s constitutional order.

Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro denounced the development in a post on X, calling it a criminal attack on the country’s constitutional framework. He urged supporters to resist the move through what he described as loud, determined and united opposition.

The confrontation has exposed deep divisions over judicial appointments, constitutional authority and the balance of power in Poland, with the latest developments raising fresh questions about the independence and functioning of one of the country’s most important judicial institutions.