Tusk defends Polish court overhaul despite protests
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to push through a contested overhaul of Poland's constitutional court, declaring "in certain matters, there can be no compromise" despite overnight protests that drew riot police to protect the building. Tusk defended the shake-up as vital to restore a tribunal crippled by years of political disputes, citing adverse rulings from European tribunals and comparing opposition outrage to a thief screaming about violence when caught. The crisis flared Friday when government-backed judges suspended PiS-appointed officials, prompting street protests. The confrontation sets battle lines before next year's parliamentary election, with polls showing a close race. Legal experts remain divided on the move's lawfulness, with Poland's Helsinki Foundation calling the suspension's legal basis "questionable," while Tusk accused pro-Russian forces of supporting the opposition.