In brief
On 31 October 2026, President Karol Nawrocki held crisis talks at the presidential palace with nationalist, far‑right, and some coalition leaders after the Constitutional Tribunal’s chief judge was abruptly suspended. Prime Minister Donald Tusk did not attend, instead criticising nationalist forces in a televised speech. A physical confrontation between the president and judges was reported the same day, underscoring the growing stalemate. No resolution emerged by Saturday afternoon, leaving the future of the tribunal’s independence in doubt.
On Saturday, October 31, President Karol Nawrocki convened urgent consultations at the presidential palace with nationalist, far‑right and select governing coalition parties. The talks were triggered by the sudden suspension, on Friday, of Bogdan Swieczkowski, the chief judge of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, a move that has intensified a dispute over the court’s politicisation.
According to Al Jazeera, the president described the meeting as “urgent” because it was “due to the threat to Poland’s internal security” posed by the arrest of Swieczkowski. Despite the gathering of representatives, no breakthrough was reported by Saturday afternoon, leaving the crisis unresolved.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk was absent from the discussion. The centre‑right Civic Coalition, led by Tusk, called for dialogue on the following day, but the president’s assembly was limited to right‑wing allies. Later that evening, Tusk spoke on national television, accusing the opposition of wanting to "destroy democracy and rule of law." He added, "Let’s call things by their name." These remarks were cited by the prime minister’s office in a statement released on the same day.
"For years in Poland there exist organisations and politicians who wish to destroy democracy and rule of law. Let’s call things by their name," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk in a televised address.
Outside the Constitutional Tribunal, protests continued, with supporters of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party rallying against what they see as a coup d’état by the government. For weeks, demonstrators have gathered outside the court, backing PiS-friendly judges and opposing the ousting of Swieczkowski.
A separate report from Notes From Poland detailed an unprecedented physical confrontation between President Nawrocki and members of the tribunal. On the same day, the president allegedly clashed both verbally and physically with judges who were attempting to assert control over the court. The report described a heated exchange that highlighted the depth of the power struggle within Poland’s judiciary.
The European Commission, citing the sovereignty of national courts, urged the president to accept the nomination of new judges. In a statement posted on Saturday, the commission called for a swift solution to restore what it described as the rule of law in Poland after years of perceived erosion under the PiS government.
Interpretations of Swieczkowski’s removal vary. Tusk claims the decision was necessary to reverse years of judge‑politicisation, while supporters of PiS view the suspension as an attempt to dismantle the court’s independence. The court’s official X account labelled the government move a "coup d’etat", further inflaming the debate.
Uncertainties remain about the outcome of the meeting, the president’s willingness to negotiate with the prime minister, and whether the court’s future direction will favour PiS alignment or an impartial stance. The continuing protests, the president’s physical altercation with judges, and the European Commission’s involvement all indicate that the situation is far from settled and may evolve in ways yet to be seen.
