Polish PM suspends court head, sparking second night of protests

The government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Saturday that it would continue its push to change how Poland's Constitutional Tribunal operates. This decision came as hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the court for the second consecutive night to protest the suspension of the tribunal's president, Bogdan Święczkowski.

Tusk, whose pro-European administration has been in power since 2023, stated that the suspension was a necessary step to restore judicial independence. He contrasted his government's actions with the rule of the previous national-conservative party, Law and Justice, or PiS, which governed the country from 2015 to 2023. Critics from the opposition have described the move as a coup d'etat.

President Karol Nawrocki, a political opponent of Tusk, returned to Warsaw on Friday evening after turning his plane around during a flight to Senegal. Upon his return, Nawrocki traveled to the Constitutional Tribunal and said he helped the suspended court president enter the building. Police reported detaining three protesters that night after individuals threw objects at officers and attempted to breach the security fence.

The dispute has intensified the divide between Tusk's coalition and the PiS party ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. The EU's top court previously ruled that the tribunal was no longer impartial following judicial appointments made under PiS. Since taking office, Tusk's government has tried to replace these judges but faced vetoes from Nawrocki and the previous court leadership.

In a post on social media on Friday evening, Tusk wrote that restoring the rule of law was an obligation. He described the process as difficult and sometimes painful, noting that it required decisive action after years of what he called lawlessness under PiS. The government argues that Święczkowski broke the law and blocked judges elected by the parliamentary majority from taking their positions.

Marcin Przydacz, a senior aide to the president, told the Associated Press that Poland is facing a massive constitutional crisis. He characterized the suspension as an illegal and forceful attempt to take over an important institution. Przydacz said Nawrocki had invited all parliamentary parties to talks on Saturday to defuse the tensions. Representatives of Poland 2050 and the Polish People’s Party, which are part of Tusk's coalition, attended these meetings. Tusk did not participate in the talks.

Przydacz stated that the president's camp hopes the crisis will weaken Tusk's parliamentary majority. He noted that the outcome depends on the political parties that have supported the prime minister so far. Tusk's coalition includes the Civic Coalition, the Left, Poland 2050, and the Polish People’s Party.

Speaking on Saturday night, Tusk compared the opposition's reaction to a thief who steals a purse and then claims to be the victim when police retrieve it. He said PiS and the president were using the suspension to destroy the rule of law. The government maintains that its actions are legal and necessary to ensure the tribunal is staffed with lawfully appointed judges.