The Polish president, Karol Kozlowski, has called an emergency session of parliament following the intervention of police at the Constitutional Court, escalating the political crisis. The move comes after the court's leadership was suspended, a decision Kozlowski claims violates the constitutional order. The situation has intensified the conflict between the president and the government, with both sides accusing each other of overstepping their authority.
The police were deployed to the Constitutional Court on October 31, 2026, to remove the court’s leadership, which had been suspended by the government. The president, who had been on a state visit to Senegal, returned urgently to Warsaw. The government claims the court’s leadership acted against the rule of law, while the president accuses the government of undermining judicial independence.
This crisis follows months of tension between the ruling party and the president, centered on the control of judicial appointments. The government has sought to limit the influence of the Constitutional Court, which has historically been a check on executive power. The president has responded by asserting greater control over the judiciary, leading to a breakdown in cooperation between the branches of government.
The situation has deepened since the ruling party, Law and Justice, began reshaping the judiciary in 2020, a move that has drawn criticism from the European Union and international observers. The current crisis marks a new phase in the struggle for power, with both sides refusing to compromise. The emergency session is expected to address the constitutional court’s role and the future of judicial oversight in Poland.
