Politics · 2026-11-01 · Afternoon briefing

EU backs Tusk in Polish constitutional court showdown

The European Commission has backed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in a crisis over the country's Constitutional Tribunal. The government led by Tusk is reversing judicial changes by the former Law and Justice (PiS) party, and an EU commissioner affirmed parliament's right to appoint new judges.

The dispute intensified on Friday when a judge suspended the Tribunal's president and deputy for blocking judges elected by the Tusk-led majority. President Karol Nawrocki, a PiS ally, aborted a trip to Senegal, returning to Warsaw to confront judges at the Tribunal after midnight Saturday.

Tusk vowed "no compromise," comparing reconciliation calls to letting a thief keep half a stolen handbag. The governing coalition boycotted talks called by the president. A new assembly of judges convenes Tuesday, setting up a further confrontation.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

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• Commission backs Tusk as he vows no compromise in court showdown
• Polish president accuses Tusk of forced takeover of country's top court
• Polish President Nawrocki confronts Tusk-backed 'head of court' Korwin-Piotrowska as cops surround constitutional court - watch
• Police detain 3 protesters during overnight rally as Polish president backs suspended judge
• Poland Constitutional Crisis Erupts as President Nawrocki Turns Plane Around Amid Tusk Showdown Over Court

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