Brussels urges Polish president to approve Constitutional Tribunal judges amid political crisis
The European Commission on Saturday urged Polish President Karol Nawrocki to approve the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Tribunal to resolve a deep political crisis in Warsaw, backing Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Commission stated Polish authorities must ensure the Tribunal functions per the constitution and EU law, noting the Sejm's nominations of eight new members fall under its constitutional competence. Nawrocki has refused to endorse them, and Saturday's consultations with party representatives yielded no tangible results. The crisis escalated Friday when riot police blocked access to the Tribunal, and a newly appointed judge announced she was assuming interim leadership after suspending its PiS-backed president. With elections over a year away, analysts warn of an explosive situation as PiS supporters protest, accusing Tusk of destroying democracy.