“In such a moment, the President must be in Poland,” Karol Nawrocki wrote on X after canceling a planned trip to Senegal. Police in Warsaw secured the grounds of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal and blocked Tribunal Bogdan Swieczkowski from entering the building, as reported by Polish media.
The standoff follows a series of contradictory messages regarding the court’s leadership. The Tribunal’s website briefly posted a notice stating that Swieczkowski and his deputy were suspended for one month, with Anna Korwin-Piotrowska appointed to lead the court. Shortly after, a post on X from the Constitutional Tribunal denied this information, claiming the website had been attacked by hackers.
Nawrocki and PiS supporters challenge court access
Karol Nawrocki, who is aligned with the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, returned to Warsaw to hold talks with judges inside the court building. Outside, protesters including PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński gathered. Some demonstrators attempted to use a grinder to cut through a chain locking the court’s gate.
The police deployment began after Anna Korwin-Piotrowska alerted authorities to potential security risks for judges and staff, according to Warsaw police statements.
Tusk government pushes for judicial overhaul
Donald Tusk stated on X that restoring the rule of law is a commitment of his government. Tusk described the process as “difficult” and “sometimes painful” following years of “lawlessness” under the PiS government, which ruled from 2015 to 2023.
The current friction stems from the PiS era, during which the party filled the court with politically aligned judges. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) previously ruled that the Polish Constitutional Tribunal could not be considered independent or impartial due to severe flaws in the appointment of its judges and its president.
Did you know? The European Court of Justice (ECJ) officially questioned the independence of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal based on how its judges and president were appointed during the PiS administration.
President Nawrocki blocks new judge appointments
The transition of power has stalled largely due to President Nawrocki’s refusal to swear in five constitutional judges nominated by Parliament. In response, these judges took their oath of office before Parliament instead. However, Tribunal President Swieczkowski, an appointee of the previous PiS government, subsequently denied them entry to the building.
Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, one of the nominees Nawrocki refused to swear in, told the broadcaster TVP that Swieczkowski has rendered the court incapable of functioning by blocking the new judges. As the most senior judge, Korwin-Piotrowska has called for a session of all constitutional judges on November 3.
Comparison of Court Leadership Claims
| Source of Claim | Stated Status of President Swieczkowski | Acting Leadership |
|---|---|---|
| Tribunal Website (initial) | Suspended for one month | Anna Korwin-Piotrowska |
| Tribunal X Account | Active (Website hacked) | Bogdan Swieczkowski |
Constitutional Tribunal session set for November 3
The immediate resolution of the leadership crisis rests on the meeting scheduled for November 3. Anna Korwin-Piotrowska convened the session of all constitutional judges to address the court’s current inability to function.
Questions on the Polish Judicial Crisis
Why did the police block the court president?
Police secured the grounds after Anna Korwin-Piotrowska alerted them to potential safety hazards for staff and judges, according to Warsaw police.
Who is Anna Korwin-Piotrowska?
She is a jurist and one of the five parliament-nominated judges whom President Nawrocki refused to swear in, and she has now called a full court session for November 3.
What was the ECJ’s specific finding?
The European Court of Justice found that the tribunal lacked independence and impartiality because of serious defects in the appointment of its president and judges.
Keep reading