Protests erupt in Poland after Constitutional Tribunal president’s suspension

VIA BRICS NEWS ON X:

Police secured Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal on Friday as dozens of protesters demonstrated against the suspension of the top court’s president, Bogdan Święczkowski, by the pro-European government, Newsday reports, citing the Associated Press.

Police said three people were detained after some protesters breached the tribunal’s fence and others threw objects at officers. President Karol Nawrocki, who was flying to Senegal, said he was cutting short his trip, writing on X: “At a moment like this, the President must be in Poland.”

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, “Restoring the rule of law is our obligation,” accusing Święczkowski, appointed under the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government, of blocking judges elected by parliament from taking up their posts. PiS politician Zbigniew Ziobro called the suspension “a blatant, criminal attack on the constitutional order” and urged resistance.

The AP could not independently verify the official reasons for the suspension.