Poland's Tusk accuses PiS of undermining democracy in court crisis
Poland is in institutional crisis as President Karol Nawrocki forced entry into the Constitutional Court, prompting Prime Minister Donald Tusk to accuse the PiS party of seeking to destroy democracy. The clash centers on judicial appointments and has drawn European Commission intervention. Tusk seeks to appoint eight new judges to comply with EU Court rulings that the tribunal lacks independence due to previous PiS-era nominations. Nawrocki refused to ratify the appointments, while police suspended court president Bogdan Swieczkowski, sparking protests led by PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczyński. The crisis has united Poland's fragmented right-wing opposition, including Morawiecki's new party and Konfederacja, who accuse Tusk of a coup attempt. Italian parties and the US ambassador have weighed in, with elections expected in autumn 2027.