Disputed Polish constitutional court holds first meeting after takeover by government

A recent meeting at Poland's Constitutional Tribunal (TK) marked a significant escalation in the country's ongoing judicial crisis. The eight government-backed judges who took control of the tribunal have made several key decisions, including disciplinary proceedings against the court's chief justice, Bogdan Święczkowski.

The decision was met with opposition from Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who declared that Święczkowski and the deputy chief justice, Bartłomiej Sochański, had been suspended for failing to fulfill their duties. However, Nawrocki himself entered the premises, where he clashed physically and verbally with Korwin-Piotrowska.

The meeting was attended by only eight judges, who were appointed to the TK by the former Law and Justice (PiS) government. The seven other judges present had all been unlawfully appointed by PiS, bringing the court under its political control. This move has sparked doubts about the legitimacy of the tribunal.

The issue at hand is whether today's general assembly has a valid quorum, given that most of the 15 judges on the TK did not attend. The meeting was broadcast live for the first time in the TK's history, with eight judges present and eight missing due to being appointed by PiS.

Key Takeaways:

* A key decision was made regarding disciplinary proceedings against Święczkowski and Sochański. * A draft budget for 2027 has been adopted, something that Święczkowski had failed to achieve. * The tribunal has not been legitimate for a decade due to unlawful appointments by PiS.

The crisis deepens as Nawrocki's refusal to swear in appointed judges raises concerns about the court's legitimacy. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing protests and clashes between protesters and police outside the court.