While en route to Senegal, Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki turned his plane around and returned home after police entered Poland's top court, the Constitutional Tribunal, and the tribunal’s president was suspended.
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president → turn → court
"At such a moment, the President must be in Poland," Nawrocki posted on X. "I'm interrupting my flight to Senegal.
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I → post → Senegal
I'm returning."
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I → return → ?
Police say they secured the Tribunal after dozens of protesters gathered to demonstrate against what they called the wrongful suspension of the top court’s president by the current pro-European government.
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they → say → government
Police said there were also dangerous objects thrown at officers outside the building.
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Police → say → building
Some protesters outside the court were seen praying, while others held posters reading "Tusk — a symbol of anti-Polish sentiment," "Down with the commies and Tusk’s regime," and "Stop destroying the state."
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others → see → state
Poland’s top judicial bodies, including the Constitutional Tribunal, have been a major bone of contention between the current pro-European government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and the main opposition party, national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS), which ruled the country from 2015 to 2023.
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which → include → 2023
Critics accuse the PiS of imposing political control over key judicial institutions, with some reforms having led the EU to impose fines on Poland.
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reforms → accuse → Poland
NATO ALLY PUSHES ‘FORT TRUMP’ US MILITARY BASE AS RUSSIAN HELICOPTER PENETRATES AIRSPACE
Nawrocki, an ally of the PiS party, refused to swear in three of six judges nominated by parliament earlier this year.
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Nawrocki → push → parliament
Constitutional Tribunal president Bogdan Święczkowski, who was appointed by the PiS government after also serving as a deputy justice minister, declined to allow judges elected by the current parliamentary majority to assume their duties.
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judges → appoint → duties
According to the tribunal’s website, Święczkowski was suspended Friday.
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Święczkowski → accord → website
"Restoring the rule of law is our duty," said Tusk, who returned to power in 2023 with a promise to restore the judiciary’s independence.
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who → restore → independence
He posted to X, "After years of PiS-led lawlessness, this is a difficult process, sometimes painful, and it requires decisive action.
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it → post → action
Since taking power, Tusk’s pro-European government’s efforts have been vetoed by two successive presidents aligned with PiS, including Nawrocki.
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efforts → take → Nawrocki
HUNGARY AND POLAND DEFEND TOUGH MIGRATION POLICIES AS FRANCE REELS FROM VIOLENT UNREST
Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, a former PiS member whose Rozwój Plus coalition is positioning itself as an alternative to Tusk's government ahead of next November’s parliamentary elections, also took to X to denounce "the forceful takeover of the Constitutional Tribunal."
"Justice cannot be achieved through violence," Morawiecki said, adding that "Tusk will stop at nothing to cling to power…
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Tusk → defend → power
We do not consent to Belarusian methods in Poland!"
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We → consent → Poland
"It’s true: a coup d’état is underway," former PiS Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro wrote on X.
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Ziobro → ’ → X.
"If someone were to forcibly break into the Prime Minister’s Office and take it over, we would all know what to call it…
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we → break → it
That is why I call for resistance that will be loud, firm, solidary and fearless.
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that → call → resistance
A judge whose oath was never accepted by the President Nawrocki has declared herself head of the Constitutional Tribunal and suspended its leadership, while police secured the building," added Morawiecki.
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Morawiecki → accept → building
"This is not how the rule of law is restored.
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rule → restore → law
The tribunal's crisis is real, but replacing one disputed set of rules with a more radical one only invites the next government to do the same."
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replacing → replace → same
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Press → contribute → report