Poland's judicial crisis deepens as Tusk and Nawrocki clash over tribunal

Poland's political crisis over the Constitutional Tribunal escalated over the weekend, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk calling President Karol Nawrocki an "aggressive brawler" after a confrontation at the court. Four former tribunal presidents backed the government, condemning Nawrocki's actions as an unprecedented violation of judicial autonomy. The dispute stems from Friday's announcement that tribunal president Bogdan Swieczkowski and his deputy were suspended, with judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska taking over temporarily. Nawrocki, from the conservative PiS party, has refused to swear in five new judges nominated by parliament, while PiS supporters have protested outside the court. The EU Commission urged Nawrocki to confirm the new judges, citing European court rulings. With parliamentary elections due next year, critics accuse PiS of deliberately escalating the crisis to weaken Tusk's government and attract right-wing voters.