Political tensions in Poland escalated as a conflict over control of the Constitutional Court erupted between the government and opposition. President Karol Nawrocki returned home abruptly from an overseas trip after the suspension of Bogdan Święczkowski, the court's chief justice, appointed by the previous administration, during judicial reforms led by the pro-European centrist government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
According to Reuters and Bloomberg, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, a judge on the Polish Constitutional Court, announced on October 30 that she had suspended the duties of Święczkowski and his deputy, asserting her authority to manage the court. The government deployed a significant police presence to prevent Święczkowski from entering the building.
Święczkowski was appointed by the Law and Justice Party (PiS) during its time in power, while Korwin-Piotrowska was elected by the current parliament after Tusk's government took office in March.
In response to the suspension of the chief justice and deputy chief justice, Nawrocki cut short his trip to Africa. Supporters of PiS gathered outside the Constitutional Court, with right-wing politicians accusing the government of staging a 'coup' against the court.
This clash is a continuation of the controversy surrounding the composition and legitimacy of the Constitutional Court that has persisted since 2015. The dispute began when the PiS government sought to appoint new judges to replace those elected during the previous administration. Critics have argued that the appointment of judges nominated by PiS, who now hold a majority of the 15 seats, has compromised the court's independence and fairness.
The Tusk government, which took office in 2023, has been pursuing judicial reforms aimed at restoring the rule of law that it claims was undermined by the previous administration. However, the conflict has continued as Nawrocki, supported by PiS, and judicial appointees from the former government have resisted these changes.
Judges of the Polish Constitutional Court are elected by parliament and take an oath before the president. Earlier this year, Nawrocki refused to swear in three of the six judges elected by parliament, and Święczkowski also did not recognize the judges elected by the current parliament.
Prime Minister Tusk stated that the recent actions were necessary to restore the rule of law. He wrote on X, "Restoring the rule of law is our duty. This process is difficult and sometimes painful, requiring decisive action. There is no other way."
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, speaking to reporters during a G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, said, "The Constitutional Court has been politicized under the previous government." He explained that the recent actions were intended to ensure that a majority of formally elected judges could operate the court normally.
The opposition has reacted strongly, accusing the government of using police power to seize control of the judiciary. Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of PiS, claimed on X, "This is something unprecedented anywhere in the world. From today, Poland is transforming into a police state."
Jakub Kumoch, Poland's ambassador to China, announced his resignation in protest, and the president of the Polish Supreme Court issued a statement criticizing the suspension of the chief justice and the police actions.
The official X account of the Constitutional Court stated that a "coup" had occurred, arguing that Korwin-Piotrowska lacked the qualifications to serve as acting chief justice since she had not taken an oath before the president.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.