Polish President Karol Nawrocki has accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government of orchestrating a "forced takeover" of the nation’s Constitutional Tribunal. The accusation follows a late-night development on Friday in which the court’s longest-serving judge, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, announced the suspension of the tribunal's president, Bogdan Swieczkowski.
Escalating Judicial Conflict
Swieczkowski, a former deputy justice minister appointed under the previous nationalist administration, has been a central figure in the ongoing power struggle between the current pro-European government and allies of the former ruling party. The suspension effectively places Korwin-Piotrowska in charge of the court, a move President Nawrocki—an ally of the previous government—has condemned as a breach of public order.
The tension stems from a prolonged dispute over judicial appointments. Swieczkowski had previously refused to swear in judges elected by the current parliamentary majority, while the government has sought to assert control over the tribunal to restore what it describes as necessary checks and balances. Critics, however, argue that recent government actions, including the appointment of Tusk ally Maciej Berek to the tribunal last month, have further politicized the judiciary.
As of Saturday, the suspension of the tribunal's president marks a significant escalation in the institutional standoff, leaving the future leadership and independence of Poland's top court in question.
