Clash intensifies between Tusk and Nawrocki over Poland’s top court

Poland's political tensions escalated on Tuesday as President Karol Nawrocki vehemently criticized Prime Minister Donald Tusk over the politicization of the country's Constitutional Tribunal. Nawrocki alleged that Tusk was attempting an unlawful power grab by using the court dispute, while Tusk defended his actions, asserting they were essential for maintaining the rule of law in Poland's sixth-largest economy.

The judicial dispute has raged for over a decade, focusing on the political appointments of judges at the high court by the previous right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) administration. In response to the crisis, Tusk suspended the tribunal's president and deputy, prompting Nawrocki to call for the prime minister to curb his government's ambitions and cease unlawful orders.

Tusk accused Nawrocki of exacerbating the conflict and urged him to stop opposing the elected judges. Tusk also blamed Russia for exploiting Poland's political turmoil and implored politicians not to become "useful idiots" amid the ongoing dispute. As tensions continued to rise, Tusk extended a one-on-one invitation to Nawrocki to discuss reducing the escalating tensions. However, Tusk also expressed satisfaction about the tribunal's return to work, suggesting the situation was stabilizing.

The feud over the tribunal is intensifying Poland's political divisions ahead of the 2027 parliamentary election, uniting a previously fragmented array of nationalist factions against Tusk. For the prime minister, the crisis presents an opportunity to solidify his voter base ahead of the election. Eight judges, elected by the current parliamentary majority led by Tusk, convened the tribunal and declared they had enough members to resume their stalled work.

Nawrocki and the right-wing camp disagreed with this authority, refusing to recognize the judges' election. The tribunal's president and deputy were subsequently suspended.