Euronews explains how a dispute over judicial appointments that began in 2015 has left Poland's Constitutional Tribunal with contested legitimacy. Changes made under the PiS government were criticised as putting the court under political control, and in 2021 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Tribunal did not meet the standard of a court established by law. The Tusk government has tried to undo the reforms, but this year President Nawrocki refused to swear in four of six newly elected judges. On 30 October a judge suspended the Tribunal's president and vice-president, followed by scuffles at the court's headquarters.

Independent courts are what protect minorities, including religious and non-religious ones, when politics turns against them.

Source: Euronews (2026-10-31)

Summarised by the FTI newsdesk.