The Polish government has announced plans to replace more than 50 ambassadors appointed under the former Law and Justice (PiS) government. This prompted a negative reaction from PiS-allied President Andrzej Duda, who is constitutionally responsible for appointing and dismissing ambassadors.
The clash marks the latest clash between the president and the ruling coalition that replaced PiS in power in December. It came just a day after Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk made a joint visit to the White House to meet with Joe Biden in a show of solidarity.
president @AndrzejDuda and prime minister @Donald Tusk jointly visited the White House for talks with @joe biden To commemorate Poland's 25th anniversary of joining NATO.
The talks focused on security, particularly assistance to Ukraine https://t.co/A3TIC5YLo8
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) March 12, 2024
On Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Director-General Radosław Sikorski had “decided to terminate the duties of more than 50 ambassadors.” This represents more than half of all Polish ambassadors.
Furthermore, the government, which has a constitutional responsibility for foreign policy, believes that the necessary exchanges of Polish representatives abroad will help it better and professionally carry out the difficult tasks facing Polish foreign policy today. I believe it will help,” he added.
Shortly afterward, Sikorski himself told broadcaster RMF that the decision was “almost routine.” The previous government said ambassadors represent the government, not the nation. Elections have consequences. ”
Komunikat MSZ w sprawie rozpoczęcia procedure odwołania ambasadorow.https://t.co/BjEmRVfXCa
— Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP 🇵🇱 (@MSZ_RP) March 13, 2024
Under the Polish constitution, foreign policy is the responsibility of the government. However, the constitution stipulates that the president also appoints and dismisses ambassadors.
Any such decision would therefore require the approval of Mr Duda, who is aligned with the former ruling party PiS and has regularly clashed with the new government.
Sikorski told RMF that such a decision would be made “in dialogue” with the president and “in a civilized manner.” However, he added that for the time being he would not reveal the name of the specific ambassador he would like to replace.
I look forward to speaking with Jestem and having a conversation with Nadal Souzi. This procedure is like a joke. To będziemy robić of sposób cywilizowany, I zawsze tak było za naszych poprzedników. Mam nadzieję, że pan prezydent da się przekonać -… pic.twitter.com/lDS6m5TgCA
— Rozmowa RMF (@Rozmowa_RMF) March 13, 2024
However, the Foreign Ministry's announcement immediately received a negative reaction from Mr. Duda and his senior staff.
The president, who was still in the United States when the news broke, reminded reporters that “no ambassador to Poland can be appointed or dismissed without the president's signature.” The president's decisions are fundamentally important. ”
One of the state secretaries of state, Mawgorzata Paprocka, similarly told Polsat News: “Ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president, so the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' announcement is greatly exaggerated.”
Paprocka added that the president was willing to “sit to the table” with the government to discuss the issue. But she said she would not just accept the government's demands.
President: “Please stop violating the law.'' @AndrzejDuda asked the prime minister @Donald Tusk Tensions are high in today's meeting.
Mr Tusk said the government would continue its efforts to “restore legal order, whether anyone likes it or not” https://t.co/0UyOCRaxvF
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 15, 2024
Prime Minister Tusk also addressed this issue yesterday. He warned that if Duda was not willing to accept the government's recommendations, “we will of course recall the ambassador until the president's position changes or he is replaced.” Duda's term ends next year.
In such a scenario, the embassy would be run by a chargé d'affaires, Tusk said. “If such a solution satisfies the president, then there is no problem. In any case, we must improve and build a team loyal to the Polish state.”
Mr Duda's chief of staff, Marcin Mastalelec, expressed disappointment that the government was taking such action, a day after Mr Duda and Mr Tusk made a joint visit to the White House in a show of solidarity. .
“Yesterday, Poland showed cooperation on security and international issues,” Mastalerek told Polsat. “It is completely incomprehensible that the Prime Minister would act unilaterally the day after such a successful visit.”
Chef Gabinetu Presidenta RP @MMastalerek w #gosichvidalzen @PolsatNews: 💬Ni Rozmiem Tego, je bez podawanija przycin, prime minister, djednostrony pokaživac blak uspouprasi, i jein po tak dobrej udani widice.
To Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej Ambassador Ządu. … https://t.co/XQpBv1JOSj
— Cancellaria Presidenta (@prezydentpl) March 13, 2024
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Main image credit: MSZ (under CC BY 3.0 PL)
Daniel Tilles is the editor-in-chief Notes from Poland. He has written for a wide range of publications on Polish issues. foreign policy, politiko europe, EU observer and Jenik Gazeta Prauna.
