Police deployed during stand-off over control of Poland's top court
A political standoff has emerged in Poland as the government attempts to suspend senior justices of the Constitutional Tribunal, leading to police intervention and protests. The government claims the move is necessary to restore the rule of law, while the Tribunal labels the actions a coup d'etat.
Why it matters
This conflict highlights the ongoing tension between the Polish government and the judiciary, which has significant implications for the country's democratic stability and its standing within the European Union.
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock Image caption, Officers were faced down by critics of the move outside the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw
A political stand-off over Poland's top court, the Constitutional Tribunal, has broken out after the government suspended its two senior justices and moved to bring criminal charges against them.
Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said he had requested stripping the court's President Bogdan Święczkowski and Vice-President Bartłomiej Sochański of their immunity from prosecution to bring criminal charges against them.
Right-wing politicians from the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party gathered outside the court premises in Warsaw to protest against the move.
Riot police were deployed to prevent any demonstrators from entering the court building.
In a social media post, the Constitutional Tribunal wrote that the two men were still the legally appointed senior justices of the court.
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2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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