Protesters gather at Poland's Top court

A heavy police presence outside Poland's constitutional tribunal as crowds protested against what they view as the unlawful suspension of the court's president by the government. It comes after news of Bogdan Swęczkowski's suspension was published on Friday. Swęczkowski became the tribunal chief under Poland's former nationalist government of the Law and Justice, or Peace Party. The current prime minister accused him of preventing judges elected by the parliamentary majority from taking up their positions. Restoring the rule of law is our duty. After years of lawlessness and of peace, this process is difficult, at times even painful, and requires decisive action. There is no other way. Tusk's government is seeking to remove judges appointed under the previous peace administration, arguing that the tribunal's independence has been compromised. Poland's nationalist president, however, has refused to swear in several judges elected by parliament. The dispute has strained relations with the EU, which previously accused the tribunal of being too closely aligned with the former government. Like Tusk, the country's justice minister has defended the move to suspend Swierczkowski. A few months ago... For several months, we've been witnessing a situation unprecedented in a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Judges who have been lawfully elected to the constitutional tribunal are being prevented from taking up their positions. Meanwhile, the country's president, who is backed by PiS, ordered his plane to be turned back to Poland on his way to Senegal. Politicians from PiS have denounced Swęczkowski's suspension, with a former justice minister referring to it as a, quote, blatant criminal attack on the constitutional order.