Tusk Defends Poland Constitutional Court Overhaul Amid Protests

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to press ahead with a contested overhaul of the country's constitutional court, declaring that "in certain matters, there can be no compromise." In a prime-time television address on Saturday night, Tusk defended the shake-up as essential to restoring a tribunal crippled by years of political disputes. His remarks came after overnight protests in Warsaw, where riot police were deployed to protect the court building. The overhaul has drawn criticism from opposition parties and some legal experts, who argue it could undermine judicial independence. Tusk, however, insists the reforms are necessary to end the paralysis that has plagued the court since the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government packed it with loyalists. The standoff highlights deep divisions over the rule of law in Poland, a key EU member. With tensions rising, the outcome will shape the country's democratic trajectory and its relations with Brussels.