Politics · 2026-10-31 · Morning briefing

Poland's president cuts short trip as judicial crisis deepens in Warsaw

Poland's President, Karol Nawrocki, cut short a state visit to Senegal to return to Warsaw as a dispute over the country's Constitutional Tribunal escalated. The crisis ignited after Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, a judge whose own appointment is contested, issued orders suspending the tribunal's president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and his deputy. The court's existing leadership does not recognise her authority, accusing her backers of an attempted coup.

The government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, pressed its advantage. The Prosecutor General submitted five requests to lift judicial immunity—four concerning Święczkowski—backed by 50 volumes of case files. Protests outside the court saw three people detained. After a supporter cut a chain to the court's gate, Święczkowski entered the grounds but was physically blocked by police from entering the building.

The turmoil prompted Poland's ambassador to China, Jakub Kumoch, to resign his post. Opposition leader Jarosław Kaczynski accused the government of creating a "police state," while Tusk maintained that restoring the rule of law after years of lawlessness is a "difficult, sometimes painful" but necessary process.

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• Inside Poland’s Midnight Showdown: Court Chief Suspended, Riot Police Deployed, President Cuts Short Trip
• Poland court crisis deepens as protesters clash with police; president cuts short Senegal trip
• Poland’s judicial crisis deepens as riot police guard constitutional court
• Poland's Constitutional Court crisis deepens as judges allege coup attempt
• Poland opposition accuses Tusk government of 'coup' as police surround top court

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