The political landscape in Poland is heating up as an investigation has been launched into an alleged coup attempt involving none other than Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Deputy Prosecutor General Michał Ostrowski initiated the case after a formal notification from the President of the Constitutional Tribunal, Bogdan Święczkowski. The accusations are serious—Tusk and several other high-ranking officials stand accused of unlawfully trying to change the country’s governance structure.
Despite the severity of the situation, government-aligned media are brushing it off, claiming, “There are no tanks on the streets,” as if a coup can only happen with military force. But as many legal experts warn, subverting the constitution doesn’t require tanks—just a pen and a disregard for the law.
PiS politician Professor Przemysław Czarnek, speaking on TV Republika’s program Wysokie Napięcie, didn’t mince words. “There are at least two clear cases where Tusk has overstepped the law,” he said.
Illegal Interference in the Prosecutor’s Office
The first damning piece of evidence involves Tusk’s endorsement of Adam Bodnar’s motion to appoint Jacek Korneluk as National Prosecutor. The problem? That position was already legally occupied by Dariusz Barski.
“Tusk knew full well that Barski was still the National Prosecutor. The Supreme Court had confirmed that his removal wasn’t valid because it lacked the president’s approval,” Czarnek explained. “And yet, he still pushed through an unlawful appointment, completely ignoring constitutional requirements.”
This reckless move effectively undermined the independence of Poland’s prosecution system.
Weaponizing the Budget to Undermine the Judiciary
The second piece of evidence is even more alarming. Tusk signed off on the 2025 budget bill and submitted it to the Sejm. But unlike regular legislative proposals, a budget bill has unique legal consequences. Even if it isn’t passed by the Sejm or is declared unconstitutional, it still impacts state policy.
And here’s the catch—Tusk’s budget deliberately targeted key judicial institutions. “The National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), the Constitutional Tribunal (TK), and parts of the Supreme Court (SN) were effectively starved of resources,” Czarnek stated. “This wasn’t just a budget proposal. This was an attempt to cripple the judiciary by cutting off its funding.”
If true, this is a blatant power grab, a way to erode judicial independence without directly disbanding the institutions. This could be a violation of Article 127 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes unconstitutional attempts to alter the state’s governing structure.
Will the System Protect Tusk?
Now that these allegations are under investigation, the question is: Will Poland’s justice system hold Tusk accountable, or will political elites sweep everything under the rug?
“This is a test for our democracy,” said Czarnek. “If we let this slide, we are setting a dangerous precedent where those in power can break the law without consequences.”