Polish President consults party leaders over Constitutional Tribunal dispute
Polish President Karol Nawrocki held consultations with political leaders Saturday over a dispute regarding the Constitutional Tribunal, sparked by government efforts to alter its composition and drawing sharp criticism from Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The conflict pits the nationalist-conservative Law and Justice party, which appointed tribunal judges during its 2015-2023 rule, against Tusk's centrist-left coalition seeking to reverse those judicial changes. The dispute escalated after the tribunal's president and deputy, both PiS appointees, were temporarily suspended, prompting right-wing protests outside the court. Nawrocki, a political rival of Tusk, forcibly entered the tribunal building Friday night, with video showing the former amateur boxer using force. Tusk condemned the move, stating the rule of law means judges cannot be intimidated by an "aggressive bully." Several coalition parties attended the talks, though Tusk's Civic Platform and the Left declined.