A political crisis deepened in Poland after the Constitutional Court building in Warsaw was placed under police cordon and the court's president was removed from office. President Karol Nawrocki cut short his official visit to Senegal and flew back to Poland in response to the developments.
An announcement published on the Constitutional Court's official website stated that Court President Bogdan Swięczkowski and Deputy President Bartlomiej Sochanski had been removed from their posts. Warsaw Police said the operation was launched following a notification by Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who warned that the safety of judges and court staff could be at risk.
Among the crowds that gathered outside the court building were opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and former Constitutional Court President Julia Przylebska. Government sources suggested the weekend timing of the move was no coincidence, with speculation that the operation had been planned well in advance.
President Nawrocki announced on social media that he was returning home immediately. "At a time like this, the President needs to be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am coming back," he wrote. His presidential aircraft, which had already entered Spanish airspace, reversed course and headed back to Warsaw. Upon his return, Nawrocki met with Supreme Court First President Zbigniew Kapinski.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended the government's actions, saying: "Restoring the rule of law is our duty. After years of lawlessness under PiS rule, this is a difficult, sometimes painful process that requires decisive steps. There is no other way."
In a separate development, Poland's Ambassador to China announced his resignation on social media, citing the political situation and stating he could no longer continue in his role. Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski responded to the post, accepting the resignation and confirming the ambassador no longer represented Poland.
