Polish President's mid-air U-turn, riot police at court, street protests: Poland's top court crisis deepens

Poland PM Donald Tusk's government has been trying to force out the top court's judges, who were appointed by the previous right-wing government. Poland was plunged into a political crisis on Saturday, after the suspension of the country's constitutional tribunal chief escalated a battle between Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist government and the nationalist right for control of the judiciary. The crisis spilled onto the streets as protests erupted around the tribunal late Friday, with President Karol Nawrocki making a mid-air return to Poland.Police stand guard during a protest outside the premises of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal after the tribunal said on its website that the tribunal's president Bogdan Swieczkowski, who was a deputy justice minister under the Law and Justice (PiS) government, had been suspended on Friday, in Warsaw, Poland, October 30, 2026. Agencja Wyborcza.pl/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. POLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN POLAND. (Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS)Poland's constitutional tribunal on Friday announced that its longest-serving judge, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, had suspended the tribunal's president, Bogdan Swieczkowski, and taken charge of the court.Swieczkowski was appointed during the tenure of the previous Law and Justice party (PiS) government, which was in power from 2015 to 2023. Tusk's pro-European goverment has been seeking to reform the tribunal and remove judges appointed by the former nationalist government, arguing that the court's independence needs to be restored. The European Union has in the past accused the court of being too close to the nationalist party, specifically when PiS was in power.The suspension triggered protests, with right-wing leaders accusing Tusk's government of staging a “coup.” The escalating standoff also prompted Polish President Nawrocki, an ally of PiS, to cut short his official visit to Senegal.Suspension triggers protests, riot police deployedRiot police was deployed around the tribunal on Friday after suspension of its chief justice, even as followers of the opposition right-wing PiS protested the ousting of Bogdan Swieczkowski.Dozens of police personnel were seen guarding the entrance to the court, according to AFP. Some of the gathered protesters chanted “Tusk traitor” as they criticised Poland's current government. One of the protesters accused Tusk of “trampling” the Polish citizens'constitutional rights, AFP reported.Deep DiveFollow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read MorePolandGet the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.