Polish police detained three people during overnight protests at the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw following the suspension of the court’s president, Bogdan Święczkowski. The suspension, announced Friday evening on the court's website, prompted hundreds of demonstrators to gather around the building, where riot police were deployed to maintain security. Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who was mid-flight to Senegal for a state visit, ordered his plane to return to Poland in response to the developments, stating on social media that he needed to be in the country.
The suspension was issued by Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, a judge described as the longest-serving member of the court. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government stated that Święczkowski had repeatedly broken the law and blocked judges from taking their seats. In conjunction with the suspension, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar submitted five applications, totaling 224 pages and 50 volumes of files, to waive the immunity of Święczkowski and his deputy, Bartłomiej Sochański, to allow for potential prosecution.
Upon his return Saturday morning, President Nawrocki entered the tribunal building and stated he assisted Święczkowski in entering the premises. Nawrocki described the government's actions as a "breach of Poland’s constitutional order" and called for an urgent meeting with parliamentary group heads to stabilize the political situation. Conversely, Prime Minister Tusk defended the measures on social media, stating that restoring the rule of law is a "difficult" and "sometimes painful" process that requires "decisive action."
The tribunal's official social media account characterized the suspension as an "unlawful takeover" and a "coup d'etat." During the overnight demonstrations, police reported that some protesters threw objects at officers and attempted to breach a security fence. According to a court spokesperson, seven judges elected this year were escorted into the building by the State Protection Service through a side gate to avoid the protests at the main entrance.
The scale of the current procedural action involves the potential prosecution of two top judicial officials and the swearing-in of eight judges recently elected by Parliament, five of whom President Nawrocki has refused to recognize. For Poland, this political instability relates to a long-standing rift with the European Union, which previously imposed fines on Poland over concerns regarding judicial independence.
The immediate next steps involve an urgent meeting called by President Nawrocki for Saturday, October 31, 2026, to address the political situation. Legal proceedings regarding the waiver of immunity for Święczkowski and Sochański will also move forward within the tribunal. While the government maintains these actions are necessary to restore legal order, the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) opposition and the President have signaled continued resistance to the suspensions. No specific dates for court hearings or further parliamentary votes on this matter were reported.