Susanna Riva A new wave of tension has hit Poland after riot police were deployed around the Constitutional Court in Warsaw on Friday evening . The event followed the suspension of the Court's President, Bogdan Święczkowski , and Vice-President, Bartłomiej Sochański , a decision taken by acting Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska.
The move has reignited conflict between the centrist government led by Donald Tusk and the right-wing nationalist PiS.
The sudden return of President Karol Nawrocki
Amid this turbulence, President Karol Nawrocki interrupted a state flight to Dakar, Senegal. While the plane was still in the air, the head of state ordered its immediate return to Warsaw , declaring on X that "at a time like this, the president must be in Poland."
Upon landing, Nawrocki proceeded directly to the court building, attracting the attention of the media and protesters.
Protests, police and accusations of a coup
Dozens of riot police cordoned off the entrances to the building, while supporters of the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party staged protests against Święczkowski's removal.
Chants of "Tusk, traitor," rosaries in hand, and sacred images stood out among the protesters. The Court, in its X-profile, deemed each participant in those actions guilty of coup d'état and denounced the "illegal" occupation of the building.
Arrests and institutional statements
Law enforcement officials reported the arrest of three individuals attempting to cross the fence and confirmed the presence of security officers at the disposal of the Ministry of Justice. Minister Waldemar Żurek issued a statement announcing the submission of five requests to lift immunity: four against Święczkowski and one against Sochański. At the same time, Judge Korwin-Piotrowska warned the police of a potential risk to the lives of magistrates and public order.
The political-legal context
The conflict didn't arise out of nowhere. After the 2023 elections, Donald Tusk 's government launched a campaign to force the resignations of judges appointed by the previous PiS government, in power from 2015 to 2023. The appointments had been criticized by the European Union, which in December 2025 declared the Polish Constitutional Tribunal non-independent due to procedural irregularities.
In March 2026, the Sejm elected six new judges; two were sworn in before President Nawrocki, but four were excluded for alleged procedural flaws. These four were nevertheless sworn in before the Speaker of the Sejm, requesting recognition of their functions. The European Court of Human Rights issued an interim measure requiring them to refrain from any action that might impede the performance of their duties, but did not resolve the dispute.
Reactions from political leaders
Prime Minister Tusk, on his X profile, stated that "restoring the rule of law is our duty" and called the process "difficult and sometimes painful." On the other hand, PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński called the operations an "attack on the Constitutional Tribunal," accusing the government of attempting a "forceful invasion" and warning of a possible drift towards a "police state."