Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday (October 31, 2:00 a.m. Greek time), accompanied by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Zbigniew Kapinski.
The Polish president had previously cut short his flight to Senegal and rushed back to Warsaw, following the decision to temporarily remove the leadership of the Constitutional Tribunal, which sparked accusations of a “coup,” intense political confrontation, and clashes that resulted in three arrests.
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SEE ALSO: Crisis in Poland: Police and Allegations of a “Coup” at the Constitutional Tribunal | AlphaNews
Navrotski’s entry into the building was met with tension, as Polish media broadcast footage of shoving at the entrance. His presence was confirmed by the head of the presidential office, Pavel Sefernaker.
— Inevitable West (@Inevitablewest) October 31, 2026
BREAKING: Polish President Karol Nawrocki has just PERSONALLY STORMED the Constitutional Court The police did not dare arrest him. This is what strong leadership looks like! He is going to SAVE POLAND!
https://t.co/uKWKrwJaQY
These developments mark the culmination of a long-standing conflict between Donald Tusk’s centrist government and the nationalist right over control of the judiciary, following the decision to suspend the president of the Constitutional Tribunal, Bogdan Świedzkowski, and his deputy, Bartłomiej Sochanski.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki entered the Constitutional Tribunal: https://t.co/58kpVF2PrB
— Paweł Rybicki (@Rybitzky) October 31, 2026
Nawrocki entered the Court; tension at the entrance
The Polish president’s entry into the Constitutional Court was announced shortly before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday by his chief of staff, Pavel Sefernaker.
“President Karol Nawrocki, accompanied by the First President of the Supreme Court, Zbigniew Kapinski, entered the Constitutional Court building,” he wrote on the X platform.
Prezydent Karol Nawrocki w towarzystwie Pierwszego Prezesa Sądu Najwyższego Zbigniewa Kapińskiego wszedł do budynku Trybunału Konstytucyjnego.
— Paweł Szefernaker
Nawrocki’s arrival came after a night of tension around the building, where a heavy police presence had been deployed and supporters of the Law and Justice (PiS) party had gathered.
According to Polish media, there was a scuffle at the entrance to the Constitutional Tribunal as the president attempted to enter the premises.
Judge Maciej Berek posted a video of the incident, and the footage was broadcast by Polish media outlets including Onet and RMF24.
Navrotski’s presence at the Court followed his talks at the presidential palace with Zbigniew Kapinski, after his return from the trip he had been forced to cut short.
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) October 31, 2026
His plane turned back from its flight to Senegal
The Polish president was en route to Senegal for an official visit when he was informed of developments at the Constitutional Court and decided to return to the country immediately.
His plane turned back mid-flight, and Nawrocki publicly announced his decision.
“At a time like this, the president must be in Poland. I am cutting short my trip to Senegal. I am returning,” he wrote on platform X.
W takim momencie Prezydent musi być w Polsce. Przerywam lot do Senegalu. Wracam
— Karol Nawrocki (@NawrockiKn) October 30, 2026
During his visit to Senegal, he was scheduled to meet with the country’s president and representatives of the African Union.
His hasty return is linked to the decision to remove the leadership of the Constitutional Court and the mobilization of the police, in a case that has sparked an open confrontation between the presidency and the government.
Navrotski, who was elected with the support of the nationalist-conservative PiS party, opposes the changes being pushed by the Tusk government regarding the Court’s composition.
The removal of the leadership and allegations of a “coup”
The crisis erupted on Friday afternoon when Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska announced the suspension of the duties of the president of the Constitutional Court, Bogdan Swietkowski, and his deputy, Bartłomiej Sochanski, for a period of one month.
She has temporarily taken over the administration of the institution, citing her seniority within the judiciary.
According to the announcements made public, the decision is linked to the obstruction of the convening of the general assembly of judges and to the manner in which the judicial panels hearing cases are constituted.
Święckowski refused to recognize the legitimacy of the decision, with the Court’s current leadership denouncing an attempt at an illegal takeover of the institution.
The Constitutional Court’s official account on the X platform stated that Swiendzkowski remains its legitimate president, while it denounced an “illegal takeover” of the Court’s official website.
“All individuals participating in these actions are committing the crime of a coup d’état,” the statement read.
Swięckowski’s camp also argued that Korwin-Piotrowska is not authorized to take over the administration, because she has not been sworn in before the President of the Republic.
The court’s website became inaccessible on Friday evening, adding to the confusion surrounding the decisions that had been made and their legality.
Police operation, clashes, and three arrests
A large police presence, including riot control units, was deployed outside the Constitutional Court, blocking access to the premises.
The police mobilization took place after Judge Anna Korvin-Piotrowska, who had warned of potential threats to the lives and physical safety of judges and staff, as well as the risk of a disturbance of public order.
Outside the courthouse, PiS supporters gathered; they have been holding rallies for weeks in support of judges who were appointed during the party’s time in power.
— Europa.com (@europa) October 30, 2026
Clashes broke out during the protests, with some demonstrators attempting to breach police barricades, while objects were also thrown at police officers.
According to the police, three people were arrested after they crossed the court’s fence.
Police authorities clarified that their officers entered the courthouse grounds, but not inside the buildings, in order to protect those present and restore public order.
“Tusk, traitor,” some protesters shouted, while others prayed, holding rosaries and religious icons.
PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński also took part in the protests and attempted to enter the Court.
Kaczyński accused the Tusk government of attempting a “coup” and of turning Poland into a “police state,” calling for the intervention of the President of the Republic.
“This is a coup by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He is trampling on our constitutional rights,” one of the protesters, Tomasz Zaleski, told Agence France-Presse.
— No Front Militar (@noFrontMilitar) October 30, 2026
Tusk: “Restoring the rule of law is our duty”
For his part, Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended the efforts to reform the judicial system, arguing that they are necessary to restore the rule of law.
“Restoring the rule of law is our duty,” he wrote on platform X.
“After years of lawlessness under PiS, this is a difficult, sometimes painful process that requires decisive action. There is no other way,” he added.
Przywracanie rządów prawa jest naszym obowiązkiem. Po latach pisowskiego bezprawia to proces trudny, czasem bolesny i wymaga zdecydowanego działania. Innej drogi nie ma.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) October 30, 2026
The government accuses the leadership of the Constitutional Tribunal of preventing judges elected by the current parliamentary majority from taking office.
The Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, Waldemar Zurek, accused Swietkowski of turning the Court into “his personal fiefdom,” thereby hindering its operation.
Speaking to POLITICO, Zurek argued that Korwin-Piotrowska’s initiative was the decision of a legally elected judge and that the government had no involvement.
“And now the judges have spoken,” he said.
At the same time, he announced that he had filed five motions to lift the immunity of Swięckowski and his deputy, which, according to him, are accompanied by 50 volumes of case files.
This move is linked to allegations that the Court’s leadership was preventing the new judges from performing their duties.
Navrotsky’s refusal to swear in three of the six new judges
At the heart of the institutional conflict lies the process of selecting and swearing in new members of the Constitutional Court.
Earlier in 2026, President Navrotski refused to swear in three of the six judges selected by the Polish Parliament, citing objections to the legality of the process.
Some of the judges who were not sworn in before him proceeded to take the oath in Parliament.
However, Święckowski refused to allow judges elected by the current parliamentary majority to take office and participate in the adjudication of cases.
This standoff has led to a prolonged institutional deadlock, with both sides questioning the legality of the other’s actions.
The Conflict Over the Judiciary That Began in 2015
The crisis surrounding the Constitutional Tribunal has its roots in the period when Poland was governed by the nationalist-conservative Law and Justice party, from 2015 to 2023.
During its eight years in power, PiS implemented extensive changes to the composition and functioning of the judicial system, appointing judges considered to be politically aligned with the party.
These interventions provoked strong reactions from the European Union, which questioned their compatibility with the principles of judicial independence and the rule of law.
The Constitutional Tribunal has repeatedly found itself at the center of disputes between Brussels and Warsaw, particularly when it challenged the primacy of European law over Polish legislation.
It also played a decisive role in imposing a near-total ban on abortions during the PiS administration.
The disputes over the judiciary also had economic consequences for Poland, as the European Union had suspended funding due to concerns about the rule of law.
In December 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the Polish Constitutional Tribunal did not meet European standards for judicial independence.
Tusk’s Return to Power and the New Institutional Impasse
After returning to the premiership in 2023, Donald Tusk, former President of the European Council, committed to reversing the judicial reforms implemented during the PiS administration and restoring the independence of the institutions.
However, his government’s efforts were met with resistance from the leadership of the Constitutional Tribunal and the Office of the President of the Republic.
Karol Nawrocki, who was elected president in 2025 with the support of PiS, argues that the government’s initiatives are aimed at gaining political control over the judiciary.
For its part, the government believes that the changes are necessary to restore the independence of the judiciary and address the problems that, according to the government and European institutions, arose during the previous administration.
The dispute has expanded to include the legality of the selection of judges, the procedures for their swearing-in, and their ability to participate in the Court’s operations.
The events of Friday and the early hours of Saturday—including the suspension of the Constitutional Court’s leadership, allegations of a “coup,” the police mobilization, and the personal intervention of President Navrotsky, have once again brought to the forefront the question of who has the legal authority to administer the institution and to what extent its decisions will be recognized by all state bodies.
Source: Proto Thema
