Police Secure Poland's Constitutional Tribunal Amid Protests Over Court Chief's Suspension

Police secured Poland's Constitutional Tribunal on Friday and detained three individuals after protesters breached the court's fence and hurled objects at officers. The unrest followed the sudden suspension of the tribunal's president, Bogdan Święczkowski, whose suspension notice appeared on the court's official website before it went offline.

The development triggered an immediate response from Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who was mid-flight to Senegal at the time. Announcing his decision on X, Nawrocki stated that he was cutting his journey short because the president must be in Poland during such a critical situation.

The suspension of Święczkowski is the latest chapter in a long-running political battle over the independence of Poland's top judicial bodies. Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European government, which took power in 2023 with a pledge to restore the rule of law, has frequently clashed with institutions influenced by the previous national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party administration.

Prime Minister Tusk defended the government's aggressive approach on social media, writing that restoring the rule of law after years of lawlessness under PiS is a difficult and sometimes painful process requiring decisive action. Tusk previously accused Święczkowski of blocking lawfully elected judges from taking their posts at the tribunal.

Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek announced that he has formally requested the removal of immunities for Święczkowski and his deputy, accusing them of failing to fulfill their duties by preventing judges from working. Meanwhile, opposition politicians from PiS heavily condemned the move, labeling it a criminal assault on the constitutional order and a coup against the court.

Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro called for loud, firm, and solidary public resistance against the government's actions. The ongoing judicial power struggle continues to polarize the nation, pitting the current parliamentary majority and executive leadership against opposition figures and judicial officials appointed during the prior administration.