Poland deploys riot police after court chief’s suspension

Riot police have been deployed around Poland's constitutional court as President Karol Nawrocki called off an African visit following the suspension of the court's chief justice. The conflict stems from a power struggle between the centrist government and the nationalist right. The government has been attempting to remove the court's judges, who were appointed by the previous nationalist government of the Law and Justice party (PiS).

Dozens of police were stationed at the entrance to the court as supporters of the now opposition PiS demonstrated over the removal of court president Bogdan Swieczkowski. The court's official social media account reported a "coup d'etat" and claimed Swieczkowski remained in office. President Nawrocki, a right-wing independent, canceled a flight to Senegal for an official trip to return to Warsaw. The suspension of Swieczkowski was announced by another court judge, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska.