Sławomir Cenckiewicz resigned as head of Poland’s National Security Bureau (BBN) on April 23, citing government actions and will support presidential candidate Przemysław Czarnk.
Cenckiewicz’s Resignation and Allegations
Presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz announced Cenckiewicz’s resignation, effective April 23rd, via X (formerly Twitter). Cenckiewicz subsequently released a statement attributing his departure to what he described as unlawful actions by the government of Donald Tusk.
He accused the government of disregarding court rulings and unjustly denying him access to classified information, paralyzing the BBN’s operations.
Support for Czarnk and Future Role
Cenckiewicz stated he will now support candidate Przemysław Czarnk in the upcoming presidential campaign. Czarnk, a former education minister under the PiS government, indicated he would utilize Cenckiewicz’s security expertise.
Cenckiewicz emphasized that a change in government is now paramount, stating his position previously constrained his ability to oppose Donald Tusk.
Dispute Over Security Clearance
Despite winning a case on April 15, 2026, before the Supreme Administrative Court to restore access to classified information, Cenckiewicz remained without such access due to what were described as unlawful actions by the ruling government.
Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesperson for the special services coordinator, clarified that the court decision only concluded the legal-administrative phase and did not automatically reinstate Cenckiewicz’s access, requiring a verification procedure.
Origins of the Security Clearance Issue
The dispute over Cenckiewicz’s security clearance dates back to the end of the PiS government, when the Military Counterintelligence Service questioned a security questionnaire he had submitted years prior.
An audit reportedly revealed that Cenckiewicz had omitted information regarding medical treatment he was required to disclose on the questionnaire, leading to the revocation of his clearance, which he initially successfully appealed.
The Prime Minister’s Office filed an appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court. Cenckiewicz characterized the government’s actions as “blind hatred” from Tusk’s team.