Polish president turns plane around after 'coup' at nation’s top court

While en route to Senegal, Poland's President Karol Nawrocki turned his plane around and returned home after police entered Poland's top court, the Constitutional Tribunal, and the tribunal's president was suspended. "At such a moment, the President must be in Poland," Nawrocki posted on X. "I'm interrupting my flight to Senegal. I'm returning."

Police say they secured the Tribunal after dozens of protesters gathered to demonstrate against what they called the wrongful suspension of the top court's president by the current pro-European government. Police said there were also dangerous objects thrown at officers outside the building.

Protests and Political Tensions

Some protesters outside the court were seen praying, while others held posters reading "Tusk — a symbol of anti-Polish sentiment," "Down with the commies and Tusk's regime," and "Stop destroying the state." Poland's top judicial bodies have been a major bone of contention between the current pro-European government and the main opposition party, national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS).

Constitutional Tribunal president Bogdan Święczkowski, who was appointed by the PiS government after also serving as a deputy justice minister, declined to allow judges elected by the current parliamentary majority to assume their duties. According to the tribunal's website, Święczkowski was suspended Friday.

Opposition Response

"Justice cannot be achieved through violence," said Morawiecki, adding that "Tusk will stop at nothing to cling to power… We do not consent to Belarusian methods in Poland!" Former PiS Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro wrote on X: It's true: a coup d'état is underway. If someone were to forcibly break into the Prime Minister's Office and take it over, we would all know what to call it… This is a blatant, criminal attack on the constitutional order.

"A judge whose oath was never accepted by the President Nawrocki has declared herself head of the Constitutional Tribunal and suspended its leadership, while police secured the building," added Morawiecki. "This is not how the rule of law is restored. The tribunal's crisis is real, but replacing one disputed set of rules with a more radical one only invites the next government to do the same."