Poland Suspends Constitutional Court Chief in Power Standoff

Police entered Poland's Constitutional Tribunal on Friday after its president, Bogdan Swieczkowski, was suspended. President Karol Nawrocki turned his Senegal-bound plane around.

• Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska ordered Swieczkowski and deputy Bartlomiej Sochanski suspended.
• The tribunal's X account called the move a coup and her order invalid.
• Police said they entered after objects were thrown at officers outside.
• Tusk called the action necessary to restore the rule of law.

Why it matters: The dispute decides who controls the court that rules on the constitutionality of Polish law. The tribunal has been effectively paralysed for months.

• Nawrocki refused to swear in three of six parliament-nominated judges this year.
• Swieczkowski blocked judges elected by the current majority from taking up duties.

How 41 sources split on this story

Where they split: The two sides disagree over whether the suspension is a lawful restoration of the court or an illegal seizure of it.

What’s next: Nawrocki is flying back to Warsaw. He said the president must be in Poland at such a moment.

• Zurek requested lifting immunity for Swieczkowski and Sochanski.
• Whether courts or other state bodies will recognize Korwin-Piotrowska as interim chief.
• How Nawrocki will respond once back in Warsaw.