Polish PiS calls suspension of Constitutional Tribunal chief a 'state coup' as police block court building

In brief

• Poland's Constitutional Tribunal suspended its chief Bogdan Święczkowski and deputy Bartłomiej Sochański on October 30.
• Crowds including Jarosław Kaczyński protested outside the court, and police blocked entry to the building.
• PiS called the move a state coup, and President Nawrocki returned early from a trip to Senegal.
• The dispute stems from months of conflict over judges elected by the new parliamentary majority.

Suspension and legal basis

On the evening of October 30, the Constitutional Tribunal announced that its chief, Bogdan Święczkowski, and his deputy, Bartłomiej Sochański, had been removed from their posts (В Польщі відсторонили голову Конституційного трибуналу, перед будівлею мітинг – UNIAN) (Польська партія PiS заявила про «держпререворот» після відсторонення голови Конституційного трибуналу – Suspilne). The reported reason was that the two had illegally blocked judges' meetings and the formation of panels to hear cases (У Польщі заговорили про "держпереворот": поліція оточила будівлю Конституційного трибуналу – TSN).

Protest and police at the court

A crowd gathered outside the building, among them PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński (Навроцький терміново повернувся у Варшаву на тлі політичної кризи: що відбувається у Польщі – TSN) (Президент Польщі терміново повернувся у Варшаву через ситуацію з Конституційним трибуналом – Українська правда). Protesters damaged the gates and tried to force their way in. Police kept them out and also turned away Święczkowski when he arrived. Police later said officers entered the building after incidents in which objects were thrown at them (В Польше отстранили председателя Конституционного трибунала, Навроцкий отменил рейс в Сенегал и возвращается в Варшаву – NV). The tribunal's account on X said its website had been seized and that Święczkowski was still performing his duties.

Political reaction

PiS described the moves as a state coup, and Sochański and opposition figures called them a coup too (В Польше отстранили председателя Конституционного трибунала. Здание оцепила полиция, а оппозиция заявила о «перевороте» – Meduza). Prime Minister Donald Tusk said restoring the rule of law would require decisive action. Nawrocki cancelled a flight to Senegal and said he was returning to Poland, where he planned to meet Supreme Court First President Zbigniew Kapiński. Polish ambassador to China Jakub Kumoch announced his resignation, citing the events around the tribunal (Посол Польщі у Китаї йде у відставку через конституційну кризу – Українська правда).

Months-long dispute

The conflict predates the latest events. Nawrocki, who is backed by PiS, refused to swear in three judges elected by the new parliamentary majority. The Tusk government does not recognise the tribunal as legitimate, because it still includes judges appointed while PiS was in power.

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