Dispute over ambassadors. Will the ambassador to the Vatican, Andrzej Duda's friend, lose his position? Bartosz Wieliński (GW) about the arrangements

“Gazeta Wyborcza” wrote on Tuesday that the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski wants to deprive the ambassador of Poland Vatican Adam Kwiatkowski, who has held the position since 2022. The daily noted that Kwiatkowski, who was, among others, the head of President Andrzej Duda's office, is considered his friend.

As described by “GW”, last year, after the formation of the new government, the president talked with Sikorski about changes in foreign policy and changes in the ambassadorial positions were agreed. “Duda demanded that Sikorski not dismiss his closest collaborators who took over foreign missions. Ambassador Kwiatkowski was also among them,” added “Wyborcza”. According to the newspaper, however, he is to return to the country at the beginning of next year.

One of the diplomats quoted by “Gazeta Wyborcza” said that “Kwiatkowski is not coping.”

A journalist of “Gazeta Wyborcza”, co-author of the article, Bartosz Wieliński, explained on TVN24 that “the reason is prosaic, simply bad work.”

– The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not satisfied with the way the embassy operates under the leadership of former minister Kwiatkowski, currently ambassador. The point is that the Pope is sending very different messages on the subject war in Ukraineon the Russian invasion, including calls for reconciliation with Russia. His statements are surprising. However, this embassy, ​​from what we have learned, simply has little to say on this matter and does not keep us updated, does not predict the course of events, does not pay attention to the background, to the reasons, it is simply as if the ambassador was not there, no Polish representative – he explained.

– The Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that it is surprised by the dynamics of events in the Vatican and the actions of Vatican diplomacy, which, considering the international situation, is very important for Poland. And this is where it all went wrong, added Wieliński. – And from what I know, Ambassador Kwiatkowski has already been ordered to return to the country – he said. He noted that he had several months to do so.

Wieliński also noted on TVN24 that the question remains whether this is the last move of this type, because “ambassador Kwiatkowski is on the so-called Duda list, i.e. a list of four diplomats, his former colleagues, sent to foreign missions.”

There are also, as “GW” points out, Jakub Kumoch, former head of the presidential Office of International Affairs and currently ambassador in Beijing; Paweł Soloch, former head of the National Security Bureau, who became ambassador to… Romania and Krzysztof Szczerskiformer head of the presidential cabinet, today ambassador to UN.

– From what I hear, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seriously considering whether to dismiss these men from their institutions. Not only because of competences, but also because this rhetorical dispute between the (Presidential) Palace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reached a very high level. And Minister Sikorski, from what I managed to find out, felt offended by what the president said in his speech on October 16, when he simply accused him of sending Russian agents to the outposts – said the “GW” journalist.

– This accusation was formulated from the parliamentary tribune. This was another crossing of certain limits by the president, he added.

READ MORE: Andrzej Duda in the Sejm. What he said in the message >>>

“Gazeta Wyborcza” reminded that the president, contrary to the arrangements with Sikorski, is blocking the exchange of ambassadors, although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already brought over 50 diplomats sent abroad by PIS. Andrzej Duda has ignored the government's calls and has not nominated any ambassador so far. Diplomats at the missions therefore function as chargés d'affaires.