Poland deploys riot police, as court chief’s ousting sparks crisis

Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki called off a visit to Africa in mid-flight, as riot police deployed around the country’s constitutional court on Friday following the suspension of its chief justice in a battle between the centrist government and the nationalist right.

Dozens of police guarded the entrance to the court as followers of the opposition right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS) protested against the ousting of constitutional court president Bogdan Swieczkowski.

The court’s official social media account said there had been a “coup d’etat” and some demonstrators chanted “Tusk traitor”, as they condemned the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk.