Polish prosecutors have launched an investigation into Prime Minister Donald Tusk and several top officials after Bogdan Święczkowski, head of the Constitutional Tribunal, accused them of orchestrating a coup.
Święczkowski revealed that Deputy Prosecutor General Michał Ostrowski is probing allegations that Tusk, parliamentary leaders, government legal officials, and high-ranking judges conspired to dismantle Poland’s constitutional system. The complaint, a hefty 60 pages, claims this “organized criminal group” began its efforts on December 13, 2024, aiming to curb the powers of the Constitutional Tribunal, the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), and the Supreme Court.
Ostrowski declared he had formally opened an investigation into “the use of threats and unlawful pressure” against key judicial institutions, though he admitted no evidence had yet been submitted to prosecutors.
Tusk’s government, which took power in December 2023, has been working to reverse PiS-era judicial reforms, long criticized by Brussels for undermining judicial independence. These reforms led to EU sanctions, including the freezing of billions in recovery funds—funds that were only released once Tusk pledged to restore the rule of law. PiS, however, argues that the current government’s actions endanger judicial independence and violate democratic norms.
Judicial reform has hit roadblocks, with President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, resisting changes. As a result, the Constitutional Tribunal remains stacked with PiS-era judges.
Tusk, for his part, mocked the accusations. In a post on X, he wrote “Coup d’état” followed by a laughing emoji, even sharing a video of himself casually playing ping pong. When a voice off-camera mentioned PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński’s claim that he staged a coup, Tusk quipped, “Come on, we have serious matters to deal with. We’ll handle that later.”
Meanwhile, PiS leaders, including Kaczyński, cheered the probe, calling it a necessary response to what they see as blatant violations of Poland’s Constitution.
The political battle over judicial independence is far from over, and with Poland’s presidential election looming, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
