Polish judge suspends Constitutional Tribunal chief as police gather outside
A judge on Poland's Constitutional Tribunal ordered a one-month break for the court's president and vice president on Friday and moved to lead it herself. The vice president and opposition politicians call it a coup. Her side cites a court law, and police say they stayed outside the building.
A judge on Poland's Constitutional Tribunal moved on Friday to take charge of the court. Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska ordered a one-month break from duty for the court's two leaders, Rzeczpospolita reported. They are President Bogdan Święczkowski and Vice President Bartłomiej Sochański. Gazeta Prawna said judges chosen by the current Sejm, the lower house, took de facto control of the tribunal. OKO.press also reported the suspensions.
The order cites Article 130 of the law on the common courts, according to a statement from tribunal judge Sławomir Patyra sent to Rzeczpospolita. The judge with the longest service now leads the court.
The suspended judges reject the move. "A coup is under way," Sochański said, Rzeczpospolita reported, in a NewsHabit translation. Święczkowski said Korwin-Piotrowska "usurps" the right to run the tribunal. The tribunal's account on X said its website had been taken over unlawfully. Former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro and far-right leader Sławomir Mentzen also called it a coup, OKO.press reported. Law and Justice leader Jarosław Kaczyński wrote on X that Poland is now "a police state."
Police arrived at the tribunal grounds in the early evening, Rzeczpospolita said. Warsaw police said on X that no officers were inside the building. It said those on the grounds were called there by an authorized person. Police said three people were held after they jumped the fence, OKO.press reported.
President Karol Nawrocki cut short a trip to Senegal and flew back to Poland. Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek has sent five requests to lift the two leaders' immunity, Rzeczpospolita and Gazeta Prawna reported.
The clash is over judges chosen by the ruling coalition. Święczkowski, picked under the former PiS government, does not recognize them, OKO.press said. Their side cites a Venice Commission opinion that the president cannot block elected judges at will. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said "restoring the rule of law is our duty," OKO.press reported.
What we know: A tribunal judge ordered the court's two leaders off duty for a month, and they call it a coup.
What we don't: Whether the order will hold, and what Nawrocki will do next.
Where outlets agree The cited reports agree Święczkowski and Sochański were suspended on Friday as judges chosen by the current Sejm moved to run the tribunal.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.