European Commission backs Polish Parliament in judicial appointments dispute

The European Commission has sided with Poland's Parliament in a dispute over judicial appointments, stating it is closely monitoring the crisis surrounding the country's Constitutional Tribunal following a confrontation outside the court on Friday evening. The Commission's spokesperson said Polish authorities must ensure the Tribunal functions per the constitution and EU law, adding that appointing eight new members falls within Parliament's constitutional power. The Commission also referenced a European Court of Human Rights ruling from May 2026 ordering Polish authorities not to obstruct judges appointed by parliament in March 2026. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called Friday's events "scandalous incidents" and promised to restore conditions for independent justice, while opposition groups accuse his government of a coup attempt. The Tribunal's legitimacy has been contested since 2015, when disputes over judicial appointments began between the then-ruling Civic Platform and the Law and Justice party.