Poland's Constitutional Court crisis: Nawrocki's plane returns, 3 detained

In Poland, tensions escalated outside the Constitutional Court building after Chief Justice Bogdan Swieczkowski and Deputy Chief Bartlomiej Sochanski were suspended from their posts, prompting police to detain three people after some protesters breached barriers and threw objects at police officers, according to Diken.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in a video message shared on social media, characterized this development as another phase in the Law and Justice Party's (PiS), former President Andrzej Duda's, and incumbent President Karol Nawrocki's "process of destroying the rule of law in Poland." Tusk noted that "shameful" events unfolded outside the court building yesterday, stating that "the path to maintaining order cannot be to retreat in the face of lawlessness and violence," and emphasizing his determination to fulfill his duties.

President Nawrocki's plane, which had taken off for Senegal, returned to Poland via Spain due to the events. According to flight tracking platform Flightradar24 data, over one million people followed this return flight. Clashes broke out between Nawrocki and court members upon his arrival at the building.

Tusk also noted that all his efforts to reform the court with his parliamentary majority have been blocked by the president and PiS.

Poland's Ambassadors Jakub Kumoch (Beijing) and Pawel Soloch (Bucharest) resigned in reaction to the crisis. Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced he will introduce a motion of no confidence against Tusk's government. Tusk's coalition holds 239 seats in the Sejm, while the opposition needs 231 votes to bring down the government.