Chaos at Poland’s constitutional court as government-backed judges seek to oust chief justice

Poland's Constitutional Tribunal faced turmoil as government-backed judges attempted to oust Chief Justice Bogdan Święczkowski. Tensions escalated with police intervention and accusations of an illegal coup. The conflict stems from a long-standing crisis regarding the court's legitimacy, exacerbated by the current government's refusal to recognize certain judges appointed under the previous administration. Amidst the chaos, new judges were sworn in without presidential approval, leading to further disputes over authority and legality. The situation has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who warn of a descent into authoritarianism.