Poland’s top constitutional judge, Bogdan Święczkowski, has accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk of orchestrating a coup d’état, citing the government’s refusal to recognize court rulings and its alleged unlawful takeover of national media and the prosecution service.
Święczkowski, frustrated by ignored appeals for dialogue, has submitted a 60-page complaint to prosecutors, accusing Tusk, Parliament Speaker Szymon Hołownia, and other officials of dismantling judicial independence.
Tusk’s administration, which came to power in 2023 on a pledge to “restore the rule of law,” has refused to acknowledge the Constitutional Tribunal, arguing that three of its 15 judges were appointed illegally under the previous government. Since taking office, his government has enacted sweeping personnel changes through administrative orders rather than legislation, further deepening tensions with the opposition.
Święczkowski’s complaint alleges a coordinated effort to seize control of public institutions and undermine judicial authority—actions that, if proven, could carry prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life. The move was quickly backed by opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński, who has long accused Tusk of subverting democracy.
Tusk, however, didn’t seem fazed. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he dismissed the accusations with a laughing emoji, sharing a video of himself playing table tennis. When asked about Święczkowski’s claims, he jokingly pressed a paddle to his forehead and said, “Give it a rest. We’ve got real work to do.”
The European Commission, which had previously blocked Poland’s EU funds over judicial concerns under the previous PiS-led government, promptly restored them once Tusk took office. Meanwhile, the U.S. response has shifted. While the Biden administration supported Tusk’s vision of legal restoration, new U.S. leaders, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have openly criticized his alleged power grabs.
As tensions mount, the battle over Poland’s judiciary is shaping up to be more than just a domestic dispute—it’s a political showdown with major international implications.
