Poland Faces Major Constitutional Crisis After Late-Night Court Confrontation

Warsaw, October 31, 2026: Poland has entered a fresh constitutional crisis after the suspension of Constitutional Tribunal president Bogdan Święczkowski triggered protests, riot-police deployment and an emergency return by President Karol Nawrocki from an overseas trip. The confrontation has intensified the long-running battle over judicial independence and control of the country’s top constitutional court.

Tribunal Chief Suspended

The crisis erupted after judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska announced that Święczkowski and tribunal vice-president Bartłomiej Sochański had been suspended.

Korwin-Piotrowska then said she would provisionally take charge of the court, a move immediately challenged by Święczkowski and opposition politicians.

Protesters Gather Outside Court

Hundreds of demonstrators and opposition politicians gathered outside the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw after news of the suspension emerged.

Riot police were deployed around the building, and authorities said three people were detained after some protesters breached a perimeter fence and objects were thrown at officers.

President Turns Plane Around

President Karol Nawrocki, who was travelling to Senegal, cut short his journey and returned to Warsaw as the confrontation intensified.

He later entered the Constitutional Tribunal building and accused the government side of violating Poland’s constitutional order.

Nawrocki Calls Emergency Political Talks

Following the overnight standoff, Nawrocki called urgent consultations with parliamentary parties, saying the dispute posed a threat to Poland’s internal security.

He described the events at the court as a forcible takeover of a constitutional institution, while government supporters rejected that interpretation.

Tusk Government Defends Judicial Reform Push

Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European government has argued that strong action is needed to restore judicial independence after years of controversy surrounding reforms introduced under the former Law and Justice government.

The European Union had previously criticised Poland over concerns that political influence was undermining judicial independence.

Opposition Calls Move an Attack on Constitution

The opposition Law and Justice party (PiS) has strongly condemned the suspension of Święczkowski.

PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński and other opposition figures accused the government of attacking the constitutional order, while Święczkowski himself described the move as a coup.

Dispute Dates Back to 2015

The Constitutional Tribunal has been at the centre of Poland’s political divisions for more than a decade.

The dispute began in 2015 after competing governments made controversial appointments to the court, leading to years of legal battles, EU criticism and disputes over which judges were lawfully entitled to sit on the tribunal.

Crisis Could Deepen Political Polarisation

Legal experts remain divided over whether the suspension of the tribunal leadership was lawful.

With parliamentary elections due next year, the latest confrontation could deepen Poland’s political divisions and make the judiciary a central issue in the country’s next major electoral battle.

Source: Reuters, Associated Press, The Guardian, Financial Times

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