Riot police guard Poland court after judges suspended in political dispute

Riot police were deployed outside Poland's Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw after a political confrontation between Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government and the nationalist opposition escalated sharply. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the building on Friday night after judges elected by the current parliamentary majority suspended the tribunal's president and his deputy. The move prompted President Karol Nawrocki, an ally of the far-right Law and Justice party, to turn his plane around mid-flight while heading to Senegal and return to Poland.

What Happened

Police arrested three people after an attempt to enter the court complex. Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska announced the one-month suspensions of the tribunal's president and deputy, stating she was taking over running the court based on her overall length of judicial service. Meanwhile, Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Zurek took steps that could lead to criminal proceedings against the two suspended officials. President Nawrocki arrived at the tribunal during the night and called urgent consultations by Saturday morning, condemning the events as a forcible takeover.

Background

The dispute centers on the independence of the 15-member tribunal, which decides if laws follow the constitution. Tensions trace back to 2015 during a power transfer to the Law and Justice party, which critics say brought courts under political influence. The European Court of Human Rights and the EU's highest court both previously ruled that the tribunal failed to meet independent court requirements. Tusk returned as prime minister in December 2023 promising to restore judicial independence, leading to a long-running clash over who sits on the bench and the legitimacy of the court's rulings.

Context

Constitutional courts act as the final check on government power in democratic nations, making control over their membership a central battleground during shifts in political power. The situation in Poland reflects broader European debates over judicial independence, EU legal supremacy, and the limits of executive power when governments attempt to reverse previous judicial reforms.