Poland's constitutional court president suspended as riots erupt in Warsaw
Poland's government suspended the constitutional court president Bogdan Święczkowski, sparking riots and forcing the president to rush back from Senegal.
Riot police faced a tense standoff with hundreds of protesters outside Poland's constitutional court on Friday. The government had suspended its president.
The suspended judge, Bogdan Święczkowski, was appointed under the previous nationalist government. The move sparked fierce opposition from the Law and Justice party.
That party ruled Poland for eight years until 2023. President Karol Nawrocki abandoned his state visit to Senegal and flew back to Warsaw.
Shortly before 1am on Saturday, Nawrocki appeared outside the court. He made his way through the police line.
Police arrested three people after some protesters broke through the fence. They threw objects at officers.
The court has been at the heart of a decade-long dispute. The question is whether Poland's judges are independent or politically controlled.
- Bogdan Święczkowski
- Suspended court president
- decade-long
- Dispute duration
- 3
- People arrested
- Law and Justice (PiS), ruled until 2023
- Party opposed to suspension
Why it mattersThe court controls whether Poland's laws pass constitutional review. The suspension is a big step up in the battle over judicial independence.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but the standoff reflects broader tensions between Eastern European governments and the EU over rule of law that shape European stability.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
