Protesters gathered on Friday night in front of the Polish Constitutional Court and clashed with the police. These protests began after a statement was published on the court's website regarding the suspension of President, Wojciech Słowikowski, and his Deputy for one month. Judge Ania Korwin-Piotrowska will preside over the institution during this period.
Protests and Reactions
According to Warsaw police, officers responded to a judge who had reported potential threats against the safety of judges and staff. Słowikowski is one of the judges who was politically appointed and rose to his position from the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS), which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023.
The Polish government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, endorsed this action and wrote in a post on social media platform X: "Restoring the rule of law is our duty." Tusk also referred to the reform plans of the previous government that led to problems in the judicial system, stating: "This is a difficult and sometimes painful process that requires decisive action. There is no other way."
Response from the President of Poland
The right-wing President of Poland, Karol Nowacki, reacted to the situation and canceled his planned trip to Senegal. He stated: "At such a moment, the President must be in Poland." This comes as Nowacki had recently refrained from swearing in five senior judges who were appointed by Parliament. When these judges took their oath before Parliament, Słowikowski denied them entry to the building.
These developments occur as the new Polish government has promised to repeal the controversial reforms of the PiS government in the judiciary. These decisions could lead to fundamental changes in the country's judicial system and have significant impacts on Poland's political and social future. The recent demonstrations reflect public dissatisfaction with the judicial situation and efforts to restore the rule of law.
