On October 31, Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced the forcible seizure of Poland’s constitutional authority. The day before, the acting chairman of the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland, Bogdan Svenchkovsky, was dismissed and replaced by Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska with support from security forces, triggering widespread public unrest.
A political struggle has been unfolding in Poland between Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-European government and President Karol Nawrocki, who represents conservative factions. In 2023, Tusk’s party secured a majority in the Sejm and pledged to ensure judicial independence, but all such initiatives were blocked by presidential vetoes: initially by former President Andrzej Duda and now by Nawrocki. Recently, this conflict has spilled into foreign policy, with Nawrotsky emphasizing national interests and demanding Ukraine consider Poland’s stance on the Volyn massacre and Bandera symbols.
The constitutional crisis in Poland has persisted for over a decade. In June 2015, the Sejm under Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform party amended laws governing the Constitutional Tribunal to allow five new judges to be appointed as term expirations approached, enabling the ruling party to maintain control beyond elections. The conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) subsequently annulled these amendments and enacted a second revision requiring two-thirds voting for decisions while granting the President and Ministry of Justice authority to discipline judges. In 2025, the European Union Court of Justice ruled that Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal violates EU law by lacking independence.
According to Donald Tusk, the decision to remove the Constitutional Tribunal chairman and seize control through force was a necessary measure. However, in August 2025, the Warsaw Prosecutor’s Office terminated an investigation into the alleged coup attempt against the PiS party due to insufficient evidence. The European Commission did not intervene, and even pro-European politicians within Poland criticized those who seized the tribunal. Meanwhile, the Venice Commission recommended that President Nawrocki take oath from three judges appointed by the Sejm—including Anna Korwin-Piotrowska—but he ignored this advice, leading the Sejm to appoint judges contrary to Polish law.
With new parliamentary elections scheduled for autumn 2027, Tusk’s party faces a risk of losing its majority as support for conservative parties grows amid rising living costs and concerns over increased tax burdens to fund EU defense spending and assist Ukraine. Polls indicate an upward trend in public backing for the PiS party. The current political climate has intensified Poland’s dual power crisis. President Navrotsky announced urgent consultations with parliamentary groups on October 31 to establish constitutional order.
