Poland's Constitutional Court surrounded by police, President Nawrocki returns from Spain

Poland's Constitutional Court building was cordoned off by police following an announcement on the court's website that Chief Judge Bogdan Swięczkowski and Deputy Chief Judge Bartlomiej Sochanski had been removed from their posts. President Karol Nawrocki diverted his aircraft from Spanish airspace and returned to Poland after it had taken off en route to Senegal. AA reported on these developments.

Nawrocki wrote on his X account: "At a time like this, the President needs to be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am returning."

Warsaw Police stated that they were conducting work within their legal remit following a report from Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who works at the court, indicating that there could be threats to the safety of judges and court staff.

A crowd gathered outside the court building that included opposition Law and Justice Party (PiS) leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, and former Constitutional Court Chief Julia Przylebska, among others.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X: "It is our task to re-establish the rule of law. Following years of lawlessness under PiS rule, this is a difficult, at times painful process that requires decisive steps. There is no other way."

Political disagreement over judicial appointments in Poland has effectively brought the Constitutional Court's operations to a standstill.