Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal called Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska’s self-proclamation on Friday a “coup d’état,” as Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended the move as restoring the rule of law and President Karol Nawrocki suspended his trip to Senegal amid disturbances.

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The dispute erupted after Korwin-Piotrowska signed an order suspending for one month the tribunal’s top officials, Bogdan Święczkowski and Vice President Bartłomiej Sochański, and assuming leadership of the body.

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Outside the tribunal in Warsaw, episodes of violence occurred. Several people tried to break into the building past the security fence but were detained by officers, while police reported that those gathered were throwing dangerous objects at officers.

Dozens of people gathered to protest against what they considered an unjust suspension of the tribunal’s leaders.

🇵🇱 Thousands of Poles are now gathered in front of the Constitutional Tribunal building in Warsaw, which has been occupied by police sent by Donald Tusk's government.

Opposition figures are describing Tusk's actions as an attempted coup. pic.twitter.com/NcqYhJeeCl

— Europa.com (@europa) October 30, 2026

The institutional crisis erupted on Friday afternoon, when police deployed around the headquarters and a crowd of demonstrators tried at various moments to break through the police cordon. The deployment was made at the request of the judge and Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek due to possible security risks, according to the account given. According to local media, supporters of the Law and Justice (PiS) party shouted “Tusk traitor!” in front of the building.

Nawrocki said he interrupted his flight to Senegal to return and resolve the crisis, and met at the presidential palace with Święczkowski and with the First President of the Supreme Court, Zbigniew Kapiński.

🇵🇱 Statement by the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki

Tonight, the constitutional order of the Republic of Poland was breached and a constitutional organ of the State was taken over by force. I have held consultations with the First President of the Supreme…

— Piotr Müller (@PiotrMuller) October 31, 2026

The accusation of “coup d’état” was echoed by opposition leaders, including Jarosław Kaczyński, president of PiS. Tusk said restoring the rule of law is an obligation of the government and that, after years of illegality by the previous PiS executive, it is a difficult, sometimes painful process requiring decisive action. “There is no other way,” he wrote on X.

Analysts maintain that the Constitutional Tribunal was the last state institution not controlled by Donald Tusk’s government and that it had refused to follow European Union guidelines. According to this version, the executive decided to deploy police to the tribunal’s headquarters while Nawrocki was traveling to Senegal, with the expectation that the operation would be carried out quietly during his absence.