Poland's Suspended Tribunal Chief Demands Reentry, Escalating Judicial Crisis

Poland's suspended Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski arrived outside the court on Sunday demanding entry, declaring himself the legitimate president and vowing to return daily. He called the judge who suspended him an "illegal usurper" and urged police not to participate in "criminal activities." Święczkowski, a former deputy justice minister, accused Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska of acting illegally and warned police of criminal liability for inaction under Article 231 of the Penal Code. The crisis began Friday when Korwin-Piotrowska suspended Święczkowski and Vice President Bartłomiej Sochański, taking over as the court's most senior judge. The European Commission backed Prime Minister Donald Tusk, stating the Sejm must have the right to appoint judges and that the tribunal must operate per Poland's Constitution and EU jurisprudence. President Karol Nawrocki, who returned early from Senegal, met party leaders Saturday, while Tusk ruled out compromise, and the Supreme Court's First President called an emergency judges' assembly for Tuesday.