Poland's Constitutional Court Crisis Deepens as President Calls Urgent Talks

Poland's constitutional court crisis escalated Saturday as President Nawrocki convened an emergency cross-party meeting to ease tensions, but talks failed to break the deadlock by evening, deepening domestic political divides and renewing EU concerns over judicial independence. The crisis stems from Prime Minister Tusk's government push to reform the court, arguing judges appointed under the previous PiS government lack neutrality. PiS supporters have protested for weeks outside the court in Warsaw, with clashes intensifying after the court president was suspended Friday, leading to three arrests. The dispute traces back to 2015 over judicial appointments, sparking a decade-long legal battle and EU scrutiny. Tusk's coalition won elections in 2023 promising judicial reforms, but Nawrocki's presidency has created divided government. The European Commission urged Nawrocki to accept parliament's new nominees, while analysts predict the standoff will persist ahead of 2027 elections.