What is the dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal about? We explain the origins of the conflict

In 2015, the Polish government passed a new law regarding the Constitutional Tribunal, allowing the selection of judges before the end of the parliamentary term. Following the elections, the new ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), contested the previous appointments, leading to a constitutional crisis. The Tribunal ruled that some appointments were valid, while others were not, resulting in a conflict over the legitimacy of judges. Subsequent reforms by the PiS aimed to influence the Tribunal's operations, which were met with criticism from the Venice Commission and the European Commission. In 2023, a new coalition government initiated reforms to address the Tribunal's composition and operations, leading to further legal disputes and changes in leadership.