Polish president forces way into Constitutional Tribunal amid judicial crisis

Polish President Nawrocki forced his way into the Constitutional Tribunal building overnight, physically clashing with government-appointed judges in an unprecedented escalation of a judicial conflict. The confrontation marks a climax in a long-running dispute over judge appointments. The crisis began after the government suspended tribunal head Swieczkowski, a PiS loyalist, to break a deadlock over replacing conservative judges. President Nawrocki had refused to swear in new government-backed candidates, while police and protesters clashed outside, with three arrests made. The opposition, led by PiS's Kaczynski, calls the government's actions a coup. Nawrocki has called for urgent talks, citing a "violation of Poland's constitutional order," as public trust in the tribunal declines amid ongoing political interference.