Poland Constitutional Court enters turmoil after judge suspends top officials
Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska ordered the suspension of the court's president and deputy, leading to accusations of a coup.
Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska announced on Friday that she is taking control of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal. She ordered the one-month suspension of President Bogdan Święczkowski and his deputy.
Święczkowski rejected the order and claimed those responsible were staging a coup d'état. The deputy president was prevented from entering the court building.
Protests occurred outside the tribunal, where demonstrators clashed with police. Officers reported that objects were thrown at them and three individuals were detained for climbing the building's fence.
PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński joined the protests and accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk of creating a police state. Kaczyński called for the president to intervene.
President Karol Nawrocki, an ally of PiS, cut short a visit to Senegal to return to Poland. He stated on X that the president must be in the country during such moments.
Prime Minister Tusk defended his administration, stating that restoring the rule of law is a duty. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek supported Korwin-Piotrowska, claiming she is a legally appointed judge.