Institutional crisis in Poland: Donald Tusk's government accused of an attempted coup d'état

Tensions escalated on Friday, October 30, following the suspension of the country's top constitutional court officials and the deployment of a significant police presence around the tribunal's headquarters in Warsaw.

The situation prompted President Karol Nawrocki to cut short an official trip to Senegal, turning back while travelling to the African country amid the growing confrontation between Poland's leading state institutions.

"At a time like this, the president must be in Poland. I am interrupting my flight to Senegal. I am returning," Nawrocki announced on social media platform X.

The crisis has intensified the confrontation between Donald Tusk's coalition government and conservative political forces associated with the Law and Justice party (PiS), which accuse the administration of unlawfully interfering with the judiciary.

Suspension of Constitutional Tribunal leaders triggers political crisis

The dispute intensified after judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who had temporarily assumed leadership responsibilities within the Constitutional Tribunal, ordered the one-month suspension of the court's president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and vice-president, Bartłomiej Sochański.

The decision immediately provoked opposition from judges and other figures within the institution who maintain that both officials remain legally entitled to their positions.

A statement published through the Constitutional Tribunal's official X account alleged that the institution's website had been unlawfully taken over and accused those responsible of participating in a coup d'état.

"All those involved in these actions are committing the crime of a coup d'état," the statement claimed.

The allegations illustrate the depth of a dispute in which opposing judicial factions challenge the legality of each other's decisions.

However, there is no established judicial finding that a coup d'état has taken place. The accusations remain political and institutional claims rather than proven criminal offences.

Police surround Poland's Constitutional Tribunal as three protesters are arrested

The institutional confrontation has also spilled onto the streets of Warsaw, where dozens of police officers were deployed around the Constitutional Tribunal's headquarters.

Polish police confirmed the arrest of three individuals after demonstrators allegedly attempted to cross the security perimeter surrounding the court.

Objects were reportedly thrown at officers during the disturbances, prompting security forces to reinforce their presence to prevent further confrontations.

Police authorities explained that the operation followed requests from the prosecutor general and a tribunal judge, who had raised concerns about possible threats to employees and disturbances to public order.

Officers clarified that they entered the grounds surrounding the institution but did not enter the tribunal building itself.

Meanwhile, supporters of the conservative Law and Justice party gathered outside the court to protest against the suspension of its senior officials.

Dispute rooted in Poland's controversial judicial reforms

The current institutional crisis has its roots in judicial reforms introduced by the Law and Justice party during its time in government between 2015 and 2023.

Those reforms sparked a prolonged confrontation with European Union institutions, which raised concerns about judicial independence, the appointment of judges and the separation of powers.

After Donald Tusk returned to power in December 2023, his coalition government introduced measures intended to reverse some of the previous administration's reforms and change the functioning of Poland's judicial institutions.

However, these efforts encountered resistance from sections of the Constitutional Tribunal and President Karol Nawrocki.

The president has refused to administer the oath of office to some judges elected by parliament, while the tribunal's leadership has prevented certain judges appointed by the current parliamentary majority from assuming their duties.

The resulting institutional deadlock has intensified disagreements over who has the legal authority to lead the court and approve the appointment of new judges.

Donald Tusk defends efforts to restore the rule of law

Responding to criticism from the opposition, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has defended his government's approach to reforming the Constitutional Tribunal, arguing that the changes are necessary to restore the rule of law.

"Restoring the rule of law is our duty. After years of lawlessness, it is a difficult, sometimes painful process that requires decisive action. There is no other way," Tusk stated.

The Polish prime minister maintains that the current institutional deadlock is a consequence of decisions taken by judicial officials appointed during the Law and Justice administration.

Conservative opposition figures, however, argue that the government is using its parliamentary majority to interfere with the judiciary and remove officials whose appointments they consider legally valid.

Political confrontation raises concerns over Poland's institutional stability

The suspension of the Constitutional Tribunal's senior leadership and Nawrocki's decision to return urgently to Poland have further strained relations between the country's main institutions.

The dispute comes amid deep political polarisation over judicial independence, constitutional authority and the competing interpretations of the rule of law.

While Tusk's government insists that its actions are intended to restore judicial independence, the opposition accuses the administration of undermining Poland's constitutional order.

The crisis could have broader consequences for Poland's political stability and its relationship with European Union institutions, which have closely monitored the country's judicial reforms for years.

For now, the allegations of a coup d'état remain unproven, while the confrontation over control of the Constitutional Tribunal continues to deepen the country's political divisions.