US Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose, on October 31, urged officials, police and protesters to avoid escalation amid the political crisis regarding Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal. The rival sides have accused each other of undermining democratic institutions.
Thousands have gathered outside the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw amid a growing dispute between supporters of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government and opponents who accused authorities of attempting to weaken the judiciary.
Rose said the confrontation represented an “unprecedented” dispute over the government’s use of state power and the independence of a key constitutional body. He called on all parties to “take a deep breath” and avoid actions that could trigger violence. Poland’s constitutional court in a social media post described the scenario by writing, “All persons participating in these actions are committing the crime of a coup d’etat.” (This story is being updated)
