Thursday, November 5, 2026 - Germany's political and legal commentators are divided over the escalating constitutional crisis in Poland, with fresh debate emerging over who is responsible for the confrontation surrounding the country's Constitutional Tribunal.
The dispute intensified after newly elected judges announced that Anna Korwin-Piotrowska would take charge of the court, suspending its president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and his deputy. The developments have raised serious concerns about judicial independence, constitutional authority and political stability in Poland, attracting growing attention from across Europe.
German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, through Warsaw correspondent Viktoria Grossmann, blamed the former Law and Justice (PiS) government and President Karol Nawrocki for contributing to the crisis. She argued that years of political interference weakened the Constitutional Tribunal and that the current government's efforts to restore judicial independence had faced presidential resistance.
However, a different interpretation emerged from Die Welt, where University of Cologne law professor Frauke Rostalski questioned the legality of suspending the tribunal's leadership. She argued that Korwin-Piotrowska's appointment and actions raised serious constitutional concerns, highlighting the absence of a clear legal basis for the suspension.
The growing disagreement highlights how Poland's judicial crisis is becoming a wider European debate about democracy, institutional independence and the limits of government authority. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has offered to meet President Nawrocki to discuss ways of reducing tensions, while European institutions continue monitoring developments.
The tribunal's prolonged paralysis also threatens public confidence in the country's legal system, with more than 1,000 cases reportedly awaiting consideration. As political pressure increases, reaching a constitutional solution will be essential to restoring the court's ability to operate and preventing further damage to Poland's democratic institutions.
