Why is Poland witnessing a judicial crisis? Explained

Polish President Karol Nawrocki pushes through a crowd of people as he tries to enter the Constitutional Tribunal, in Warsaw, Poland, in this still image obtained from a social media video released on October 31, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters The story so far:Poland is witnessing a tussle between the head of the government and the head of the state over a long-standing controversy surrounding the country’s judicial system. The crisis worsened last week following the suspension of the chief judge and his deputy of the Constitutional Tribunal by other members of the court, leading to a stand-off between supporters of the government and opposition parties and deployment of riot police to secure the court. Published - November 02, 2026 10:57 am IST