Nawrocki aborts Senegal trip as Polish court president is suspended

Polish President Karol Nawrocki returned to Warsaw on Friday after leaving his flight to Senegal. He made the decision following the suspension of Bogdan Swieczkowski, the head of the Constitutional Tribunal. This move deepens the institutional conflict between the presidency and the prime minister's office.

The Constitutional Tribunal announced earlier on Friday that Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, its longest-serving judge, had removed Swieczkowski from his role. Korwin-Piotrowska assumed leadership of the court immediately. Swieczkowski served as the tribunal's president and was an appointee of the previous government led by the Law and Justice Party.

Nawrocki, who represents the far-right, posted on X that he was cutting short his travel to Senegal. He stated that the president must be in Poland at such a moment. His arrival back in the capital came as hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the tribunal building. A heavy police presence secured the perimeter while right-wing politicians addressed the crowd. They accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government of executing a coup against the judiciary.

Tusk defended the action on social media, saying his administration is working to restore the rule of law. He noted that the European Union had previously accused his predecessors of subverting legal standards. Tusk described the process as difficult and sometimes painful, but necessary for decisive action.

The dispute over the court's composition dates to 2015. At that time, the Law and Justice Party sought to fill seats on the tribunal that were already occupied by the prior government. Their nominees eventually secured a majority, leading critics to question the court's independence. Tusk's coalition took power in 2023 with a pledge to reform the institution.

Nawrocki has obstructed these reforms since his election in 2025. Earlier this year, he refused to swear in three of six judges nominated by parliament. Swieczkowski, a former deputy justice minister in the Law and Justice administration, declined to seat judges chosen by the current parliamentary majority. Last month, parliament appointed Maciej Berek, a Tusk ally, to the tribunal. Critics argued this appointment undermined the government's goal of restoring checks and balances.

The suspension of Swieczkowski marks a new phase in this long-running political battle. Both sides continue to refuse to recognize appointees from the opposing faction. The tribunal remains effectively paralyzed by these competing claims of legitimacy.