Polish Constitutional Tribunal head calls government moves a "coup"

Bogdan Święczkowski, president of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal, the country's top court for constitutional review, said outside the institution's building early on Saturday that an attempted "coup d'état" was under way in the country. Poland's government regards him as removed from office, yet he continues to act as the tribunal's head. His statement was reported by the Polish broadcaster RMF FM and cited by the news site European Pravda.

He said the tribunal consists of lawfully appointed judges, not "usurpers" who, in his words, entered through a "back door" accompanied by government guards and surrounded themselves with a police cordon. People present shouted "Shame". He argued that the government's actions against an independent constitutional court exclude Poland from the circle of democratic states governed by the rule of law and discredit the whole country, not only those in power. In his view, no authority may be a judge in its own case or appoint judges to its liking.

He thanked President Karol Nawrocki, the First President of the Supreme Court Zbigniew Kapiński, and other lawyers for their support.

Background

On Friday, a notice appeared on the tribunal's website announcing the suspension of Święczkowski and his deputy Bartłomiej Sochański. The tribunal's account on X, however, stated that the website had been seized and that Święczkowski was still carrying out his duties.

Overnight into Saturday, an opposition rally gathered outside the building. Participants, including Law and Justice party leader Jarosław Kaczyński, broke down the gate and tried to get into the court building.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski defended the police's actions, saying their aim was to allow lawfully elected judges to resume the institution's work.