The scene outside Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal(波兰宪法法院) on November 3rd, as the court met to approve its draft budget, was unusually rambunctious(喧闹的；难以控制的). Hundreds of right-wing protesters gathered around a stage flanked(两侧有……的； flank 的过去分词) by Polish flags and a large picture of the Virgin Mary. Speakers hurled abuse at the European Union; at Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister; and at the “usurpers” of the court—that is, the judges, appointed by parliament, whom Mr Tusk had helped to take their seats, despite obstruction by his populist-right opponents.(发言者纷纷咒骂欧盟、波兰总理图斯克，以及法院的“篡位者”——即议会任命、在图斯克帮助下就职的法官，尽管遭到民粹右翼对手的阻挠。)
11月3日，波兰宪法法院开会批准预算草案，场外景象异常喧闹。数百名右翼抗议者聚集在一个舞台周围，台上两侧悬挂波兰国旗，并竖着一幅巨大的圣母玛利亚画像。发言者纷纷咒骂欧盟、波兰总理唐纳德·图斯克，以及法院的“篡位者”——也就是议会任命、在图斯克帮助下就职的法官，尽管图斯克的民粹右翼对手百般阻挠。
The latest episode in the sorry saga(长篇故事；一连串事件) of Poland’s top court began on October 30th, when the judges marched into the court to assume their duties(就职；履职) while police sealed(封锁；封闭) the area. Approved by parliament between March and September, they had until then been blocked by the court’s president, Bogdan Swieczkowski, and Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki, both aligned with the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party.(这些法官于3月至9月间获议会批准，但此前一直遭到法院院长斯维琴科夫斯基和波兰总统纳夫罗茨基的阻挠，两人均与反对党法律与公正党结盟。) Mr Nawrocki is by law required to attend justices’ swearing-in ceremonies(宣誓就职仪式), but he had refused, giving Mr Swieczkowski an excuse to claim they were not legitimate.
波兰最高法院这出令人唏嘘的闹剧，最新一幕始于10月30日：法官们步入法院履职，警察则封锁了周边区域。这些法官于3月至9月间获议会批准，但此前一直遭到法院院长博格丹·斯维琴科夫斯基和波兰总统卡罗尔·纳夫罗茨基的阻挠，两人均与反对党法律与公正党（PiS）结盟。法律要求纳夫罗茨基出席法官宣誓就职仪式，但他拒绝出席，这给了斯维琴科夫斯基一个借口，声称这些法官不合法。
One of the new justices, Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, promptly(立即；迅速) announced she was suspending(暂停职务；停职) Mr Swieczkowski for a month and taking his place(接替他的位置). Protesters and opposition leaders gathered outside, calling it a coup(政变). Mr Nawrocki cut short(缩短；中断) a trip to Senegal in mid-air, flew back to Warsaw and forced his way into(强行闯入) the building. By November 3rd the situation had calmed and the budget meeting went ahead, but judges named by the previous PiS-led government boycotted it.(到11月3日，局势已经平息，预算会议照常举行，但由前PiS政府任命的法官抵制了会议。)
新法官之一安娜·科尔温-皮奥特罗斯卡随即宣布，暂停斯维琴科夫斯基职务一个月，并由自己接替其位。抗议者和反对派领导人聚集在外，称之为政变。纳夫罗茨基在飞往塞内加尔的途中折返，飞回华沙，强行闯入大楼。到11月3日，局势已经平息，预算会议照常举行，但由前PiS政府任命的法官抵制了会议。
