Polish President Karol Nawrocki dismissed a question about his trust in PM Donald Tusk with laughter, stating he has “absolutely no” confidence in him.
Heated exchange on Tusk’s trustworthiness
On Tuesday morning (September 30), Karol Nawrocki appeared on Radio Zet, where he discussed his relationship with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. When asked if he had “100% trust” in Tusk, the president responded with laughter. “Mr. Editor… Simple answer: absolutely not,” he stated firmly.
Dispute over ambassador nominations
The most intense conflict between the government and the president revolves around ambassador appointments. Like his predecessor, Nawrocki disagrees with some nominations proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Bogdan Klich for Washington and Ryszard Schnepf for Rome. On Friday (September 26), Tusk told reporters he had discussed the matter with Nawrocki and potential meetings with the foreign minister.
“I would be very happy if they could agree on a list of ambassadors acceptable to both the president and the foreign minister,” Tusk said. “But so far, I have received no response.” He emphasized that the government is responsible for foreign policy, adding, “The president should not block this and should not interpret the constitution in a way that hinders all the work.” Tusk also claimed he saw no “goodwill” from the president to resolve the dispute.
Nawrocki stands firm on ambassador issue
Karol Nawrocki also addressed the ambassador dispute in his interview with Radio Zet. He confirmed plans to meet with Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in October to discuss the matter but insisted he would not approve Klich and Schnepf’s nominations. He appealed to other diplomats, urging them not to proceed with the nomination process without the president’s preliminary approval.
“Right now, through Radio ZET, I can send a signal to all ambassadors and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking candidates not to enter the parliamentary committee process or accept government offers before the president preliminarily approves their candidacies,” he said. He suggested that candidates should first consult with Sikorski to avoid unnecessary steps that could lead to failed nominations. Nawrocki proposed a mechanism where the president pre-approves ambassador candidates before they undergo formal procedures, calling it a potential starting point for resolving the situation.
