Mariusz Błaszczak should follow the example of other ministers of the Law and Justice government who remain politely silent. They understand what happened on October 15 – said Tomasz Siemoniak, former Minister of National Defense, guest of Monika Olejnik, in the “Kropka nad i” program. In this way, he referred to Błaszczak’s allegations regarding the size of the army.
Tomasz Siemoniak, asked in “Kropka nad i” whether he will become a minister in the new government, replied that “it is not known because the talks are still ongoing.” As stated by the chairman of the Civic Coalition Donald Tusk will be the first to announce who will be in the new government.
During the conversation, a question was also asked whether a doctor could be the Minister of Defense. It was a suggestion for the candidacy of Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Siemoniak said that Kosiniak-Kamysz is a political leader and such a political leader can be the head of any ministry. – I value him very highly, I consider him a very decent man – argued the former defense minister in the government of Donald Tusk and Ewa Kopacz.
Tomasz Siemoniak was a guest of the “Kropka nad i” program TVN24
Generals left due to ‘growing hostility and lack of trust’
The conversation also concerned the high-profile departure from service of two Polish generals, Rajmund Andrzejczak and Tomasz Piotrowski. The former defense minister said they left not because of the “atmosphere” but “growing hostility and lack of trust.”
General Andrzejczak was replaced by Lieutenant General Wiesław Kukuła, and General Piotrowski by Major General Maciej Klisz.
As Siemoniak stated, when the new head of the Ministry of Defense is appointed, he will consider the issues of commanders. – It is not the role of politicians today, in the situation we have, to question the role of the head of the General Staff – he said.
Siemoniak also responded to the accusations of the current Minister of Defense Mariusz Błaszczakwho – quoting Siemoniak’s statement that “we cannot afford an army of 300,000 people” announced that “this means layoffs in the Polish Armed Forces, liquidation of units and reduced security of Poland.”
– Błaszczak is an embarrassing liar. I said clearly – 150,000 professional soldiers and then I mentioned how much territorial defense and voluntary service there should be. It was clear from my statement: an army of 220,000. He heard that it was 150,000 and started the attack. Today, there are no demographics for a 300,000-strong army, said Siemoniak.
Siemoniak on the generals’ departure: it was a matter of lack of trustTVN24
“Voters thanked Błaszczak”
Siemoniak added that “there are record departures (from the army) and there is a problem with the number of troops, and Minister Błaszczak is unable to part with his position.” – Every few days he launches some absurd attacks either on me or the opposition. The case of someone who did not recover from stress after an election trauma. Voters also thanked Błaszczak very much, for the generals, the Russian missile, for all this propaganda – said the guest of “Kropka nad i”.
– I am very surprised that (Błaszczak) may still be fighting for a position inside PiS (… ). Let him follow the example of other ministers of the Law and Justice government who remain elegantly silent. They understand what happened on October 15, Siemoniak added.
The presence of American soldiers
The host of the program quoted the statement of former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, who expressed fears that perhaps “the opposition will cause American soldiers to withdraw their troops from Poland.”
– Americans appeared in Poland during our rule (..) It was our government that ensured that American soldiers were in Poland. Then their presence was expanded – recalled Siemoniak, who was Minister of Defense in 2011-2015.
Main photo source: TVN24