Poland’s Constitutional Court in Turmoil as Government-Backed Judges Move to Oust Chief Justice
Poland's top court faces chaos as government-aligned judges suspend chief justice, sparking protests, police standoffs and resignations in Warsaw.
POLICY WIRE — Warsaw, Poland — Government-backed judges at Poland’s Constitutional Court suspended the court’s chief justice on Friday, igniting a wave of protests and a police deployment around the building.
The suspension sparked a fierce confrontation outside the Tribunal, where dozens of riot police formed a barrier while demonstrators shouted slogans such as “Tusk traitor” and clashed with law‑enforcement officers.
The incident intensifies a long‑standing clash between Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro‑European administration and the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which has repeatedly challenged the court’s authority.
In the wake of the crisis, several Polish ambassadors announced their resignations, adding a diplomatic layer to the domestic upheaval.
This stand‑off represents the latest flashpoint in a decade‑long battle over Poland’s top judicial bodies, including the Constitutional Tribunal, which both factions view as crucial to the nation’s direction.
Critics labeled the move a coup‑like attempt by the government, though officials from the Tusk cabinet denied any intention to undermine the judiciary.
Riot units remained stationed at the court’s entrance through the night, while protesters continued to gather, underscoring the deepening rift between the state and its highest court.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
