Nawrocki Lands in Warsaw as Tribunal Crisis Deepens; Mentzen Urges National Security Council Meeting Tonight
President Karol Nawrocki landed in Warsaw on Friday evening after deciding to cut short his flight to Senegal because of the situation at the Constitutional Tribunal (TK). Bogdan Święczkowski also arrived at the Presidential Palace, where the president is to meet with Zbigniew Kapiński, First President of the Supreme Court (SN).
The president landed in Warsaw shortly before 10 p.m. Paweł Szefernaker, head of the President’s Cabinet, had said earlier on X that “immediately upon returning to Poland, President Karol Nawrocki will meet with the First President of the Supreme Court, Zbigniew Kapiński.”
Media reports say Święczkowski, who had earlier been outside the Tribunal’s headquarters, also arrived at the Presidential Palace.
At about 6 p.m. on Friday, a notice appeared on the Constitutional Tribunal’s website concerning an order for a break in the duties of TK President Bogdan Święczkowski and TK Vice President Bartłomiej Sochański.
According to information provided to PAP by Maciej Taborowski, Magdalena Bentkowska and Maciej Berk, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, as the judge with the longest judicial service, became the person leading the Constitutional Tribunal and issued orders for breaks in the official duties of Święczkowski and Sochański for a period of one month.
The Warsaw police headquarters said officers are carrying out statutory activities on the premises of the Constitutional Tribunal following information from Tribunal judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska about possible threats to the lives or health of the Tribunal’s judges and staff. The police are not inside the TK building.
Referring earlier to the situation at the TK, President Karol Nawrocki wrote on X that “at such a moment the President must be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am coming back.” (PAP)
Mentzen: I Urge the President to Convene the National Security Council Tonight
Sławomir Mentzen, one of the leaders of the Konfederacja party, appealed to President Karol Nawrocki “to convene the National Security Council tonight.” “This is no longer a constitutional crisis; we are on the brink of a coup,” he wrote on X.
“I appeal to President Karol Nawrocki to convene the National Security Council tonight. This is no longer a constitutional crisis; we are on the brink of a coup,” Mentzen wrote on X on Friday evening.
Mentzen said that “the leaders of political parties should discuss as soon as possible whether it is high time to stop and reach an agreement.”
“Gentlemen (…), it is not too late to come to your senses!” Mentzen wrote, addressing Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Polish People’s Party (PSL) leader Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia (Polska 2050).
At about 6 p.m. on Friday, a notice appeared on the Constitutional Tribunal’s website concerning an order for a break in the duties of TK President Bogdan Święczkowski and TK Vice President Bartłomiej Sochański.
According to information provided to PAP by Maciej Taborowski, Magdalena Bentkowska and Maciej Berk, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, as the judge with the longest judicial service, became the person leading the Constitutional Tribunal and issued orders for breaks in the official duties of Święczkowski and Sochański for a period of one month.
The Warsaw police headquarters said officers are carrying out statutory activities on the premises of the Constitutional Tribunal following information from Tribunal judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska about possible threats to the lives or health of the Tribunal’s judges and staff. The police are not inside the TK building.
President Karol Nawrocki, referring to the situation at the TK, wrote on X that “at such a moment the President must be in Poland. I am cutting short my flight to Senegal. I am coming back.”
Paweł Szefernaker, head of the President’s Cabinet, said in turn that “immediately upon returning to Poland, President Karol Nawrocki will meet with the First President of the Supreme Court, Zbigniew Kapiński.”
Under the constitution, the National Security Council (RBN) is an advisory body to the president of Poland on matters of the state’s internal and external security. The president convenes the Council’s meetings and sets their agenda.
The RBN’s members are the speakers of the Sejm and the Senate, the prime minister, the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, and interior and administration, the coordinator of the special services, representatives of parliamentary caucuses and groups, the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN) and the head of the president’s chancellery.
The Council’s next meeting is planned for Nov. 3. BBN head Bartosz Grodecki said it would address current national security issues and the matter of building a permanent U.S. military base in Poland. (PAP)
