Polish President Karol Nawrocki cut short his planned trip to Senegal on Friday, announcing his immediate return to Poland following a tense confrontation at the country’s Constitutional Tribunal. The president confirmed his decision via social media, stating, "At a moment like this, the President must be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am returning."
The move followed reports that police had entered the premises of the Constitutional Tribunal. Authorities stated that officers were deployed to the site after incidents occurred outside the court, which included individuals throwing dangerous objects at police personnel. On the same day, the tribunal published a notice on its website confirming that its president, Bogdan Swieczkowski, had been suspended.
These events are the latest escalation in a protracted political standoff that has effectively paralyzed the Constitutional Tribunal. The institution has been mired in conflict over its composition and authority for some time. Earlier this year, Nawrocki, who is an ally of Poland’s former nationalist government, refused to swear in three of the six judges nominated by the parliament. Concurrently, Swieczkowski had blocked judges elected by the current parliamentary majority from assuming their official duties, further deepening the ongoing constitutional dispute.
