Polish President Calls Crisis Talks After Protests at Constitutional Tribunal

Polish President Karol Nawrocki called on the parties represented in parliament to attend crisis talks on 31 October, following overnight protests outside the Constitutional Tribunal building in Warsaw. The Tribunal is Poland's top court for reviewing whether laws comply with the constitution, and the political dispute over its composition and leadership has sharply intensified in recent days.

The president's statement

Speaking outside the building, Nawrocki said a violation of Poland's constitutional order had occurred overnight and that a state constitutional institution had been seized by force. In his view, threats to the country's internal security make talks necessary in order to stabilise the political situation and restore constitutional order. Discussions are planned for Saturday. The president left the court at about 5 a.m.

How the dispute arose

On Friday, judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, one of five Tribunal judges elected by parliament, suspended Tribunal president Bogdan Święczkowski and his deputy from office for a month. Nawrocki has refused to accept her oath of office. As the longest-serving judge, she then took over leadership of the Tribunal herself.

From 2015 to 2023, Poland was governed by the national-conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which filled the court with judges it considered loyal. Of the eight judges elected by the current parliament, Nawrocki, who is close to the PiS camp, has accepted the oaths of only three. Święczkowski has barred the other five from hearing cases.

Events at the court

On Friday evening police were deployed outside the building after Korwin-Piotrowska warned of threats to the safety of judges and staff. Protesters gathered by the fence, and some tried to force their way onto the grounds. Nawrocki, who was already on his way to Senegal, returned to Warsaw and went to the Tribunal.

Judge Maciej Berek, whom the president does not recognise, published a video showing Nawrocki making his way through the crowd. He claimed the president had physically attacked Korwin-Piotrowska and other judges.

Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek said a prosecutor had been sent to the Tribunal. He told broadcaster TVN24 that it was unacceptable for a person with immunity to break into a building and attack judges. Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X that restoring the rule of law is a duty and requires decisive action.