Tusk Vows Rule of Law in Poland Tribunal Crisis as President Blocks 3 Judges
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Oct 31
Tusk Vows Rule of Law in Poland Tribunal Crisis as President Blocks 3 Judges
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Oct 31
Summary
Donald Tusk used a televised address on Saturday to back three newly elected Constitutional Tribunal judges and promise the court would keep working despite a deepening standoff with President Karol Nawrocki.
Friday night’s crisis erupted after Nawrocki tried to enter the Tribunal building during a deadlock over the judges; police ringed the site as the confrontation played out live on television.
Tusk said the Sejm had legally chosen the judges after waiting for PiS-era terms to expire, but Nawrocki refused to receive their oaths and Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski barred them from taking up duties.
The prime minister accused PiS, the president and allied activists of undermining judicial independence, while the opposition cast the government’s moves as an attempted coup.
Tusk also warned pro-Russian groups and online bots could exploit the clash, but he offered no concrete deal or roadmap to end a dispute over the Tribunal that dates back to 2015.