Polish riot police deployed as deposed court chief sets off crisis

Poland's President Karol Nawrocki canceled a trip to Africa mid-flight after riot police were deployed nationwide to guard the constitutional court complex. The move followed the suspension of the court's chief justice, Bogdan Swieczkowski, by the nationalist right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS). Dozens of police were present at the court entrance, as supporters of PiS protested against the removal of Swieczkowski.

They chanted slogans like "Tusk traitor" and attempted to breach security barriers. Three individuals were arrested for trying to enter the court complex.

The PiS government has been attempting to remove the court's judges, who were appointed by the previous PiS government from 2015 to 2023. The European Union criticized Poland's constitutional court for being too aligned with nationalist political power. President Nawrocki, a pro-EU figure, vowed to resolve the dispute with Brussels following his 2023 election victory. However, the right-wing independent president blocked his nominations to the court.

Former PiS prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski spoke at the demonstration, urging Nawrocki to take action. Nawrocki met with Swieczkowski and the court's first chief justice, Zbigniew Kapinski, at the presidential palace, but no further details were provided. The suspension of Swieczkowski was announced by judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who claimed the move was necessary to restore the rule of law.

Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek, who is also the attorney general, requested the removal of legal immunity for Swieczkowski and his deputy, Bartlomiej Sochanski. They argued that the court had become "private property" and needed to restore its proper functioning. President Nawrocki justified the action on his social media platform, stating that restoring the rule of law was their duty, acknowledging the process would be difficult and painful, requiring decisive measures.

The official website of the constitutional court was inaccessible, and its X account claimed that Swieczkowski remained in office. Korwin-Piotrowska, unable to assume interim chief justice status due to not being sworn in by the president, stated that a democratic state cannot function without a constitutional court that safeguards citizens' rights and freedoms.