The European Commission stated on Saturday that it remains closely monitoring the ongoing crisis surrounding Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal following violent confrontations outside the court building on Friday evening, which were broadcast live on television. The events have renewed global attention to a longstanding dispute spanning more than a decade.
A Commission spokesperson told Euronews on Saturday that it is for the Polish authorities to ensure the Constitutional Tribunal operates in strict accordance with the Polish constitution and respects the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The spokesperson emphasized that the appointment of eight new members to the Constitutional Tribunal falls squarely within the constitutional power of the Sejm, Poland’s parliament.
Additionally, the spokesperson referenced a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights on May 5, which issued interim measures requiring Polish authorities to refrain from hindering judicial duties of judges appointed by the Sejm in March 2026.
Tusk: “Restoring calm does not mean accepting lawlessness”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk delivered a televised address to the Polish public on Saturday evening, marking his initial direct response to the crisis. He characterized Friday’s events as ‘scandalous incidents’ and expressed hope that such scenes would never recur in Poland.
Restoring order, Tusk stated, cannot equate to tolerating lawlessness or violence; he committed to restoring conditions for independent justice and rule of law. “A democratic state must be robust enough to enforce justice,” he declared, affirming that the rule of law would ultimately prevail over violence.
The crisis escalated on Friday night when President Karol Nawrocki attempted to enter the Tribunal building amid a deadlock over new judge appointments. As police encircled the structure and the confrontation played out live on television, it underscored the growing standoff between the presidency and the government regarding the composition of the nation’s highest court.
The governing administration asserts it is advancing long-overdue reforms to restore the rule of law, following years of alleged judicial interference by the Law and Justice (PiS) party. Conversely, the opposition characterizes these actions as an attempt at a political coup.
European conservatives accuse EU of silence
The co-chairs of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group condemned the Polish government’s actions on Saturday, labeling them a violation of the rule of law, and publicly backed President Nawrocki. “The Tusk government’s actions constitute a clear and grave violation of the rule of law. We condemn this attack on judicial independence and Poland’s constitutional safeguards. No government stands above the law,” ECR co-chair Nicola Procaccini stated.
He further insisted that European institutions ‘must not avert their eyes’ and maintained that respect for national sovereignty and judicial independence must remain a fundamental principle, untouched by political alliances.
The legitimacy of the Tribunal has been contested for over a decade, with the core dispute dating back to 2015, when conflicts emerged between the then-ruling Civic Platform and the opposition Law and Justice party over the appointment of five judges. This simmering tension has since evolved into a broader battle over judicial independence, the Tribunal’s composition, and the authority of its rulings.
