Polish riot police deployed after court chief suspended

Updated / Friday, 30 Oct 2026 21:29

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Polish President Karol Nawrocki has turned back his plane en route to Senegal after police entered the premises of Poland's top court and its president was suspended.

"At a moment like this, the President must be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am returning," he said on X.

Police said officers entered the premises of the Constitutional Tribunal after incidents outside the court, including the throwing of dangerous objects at police.

The tribunal said on its website that the court's president, Bogdan Swieczkowski, had been suspended.

A long-running political dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal has effectively paralysed the institution.

Earlier this year, Mr Nawrocki, an ally of Poland's former nationalist government of the Law and Justice or PiS party, refused to swear in three of six judges nominated by parliament, while Mr Swieczkowski, who was a deputy justice minister under PiS, declined to allow judges elected by the current parliamentary majority to assume their duties.

Restoring the rule of law is the government's duty, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X later.

"After years of lawlessness under PiS, this process is difficult, at times even painful, and requires decisive action. There is no other way," he said.

Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek told reporters he has requested the lifting of the immunities of Mr Swieczkowski and his deputy for failing to fulfill their duties by preventing judges from performing their work.

PiS politicians, including leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said Mr Tusk's government was carrying out a coup on the tribunal.