Polish officials clash over MSZ opinion regarding Poland joining Peace Council, with barbed exchanges between government and presidential staff.
Dispute Over Peace Council
On Thursday, January 22, Karol Nawrocki criticized the opinion issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Poland’s potential joining of the Peace Council. The ministry’s head, Radosław Sikorski, responded to Nawrocki’s criticism, writing: “It’s a shame that the president doesn’t appreciate that the government enabled him – without losses in PL-US relations – to avoid a mistake. Poland should play to one goal.”
Vice Prime Minister and head of the Bureau of International Policy of the President of the Republic of Poland, Marcin Przydacz, responded in turn: “Oh! The gentleman does exist! It’s a shame that neither the minister nor the subordinate ministry was so wise and active at the right time when the president was making important decisions for Poland.”
Personal Attacks and Incomprehensible Situation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Maciej Wewiór reacted to Przydacz’s post: “Still these personal attacks…You’re trying to ridicule an expert – deputy director in MSZ – just because he gave the answer two days ago. It’s just incomprehensible that the mail requesting an opinion came from exactly the same level – from a deputy director in the President’s Chancellery.”
Nawrocki: Not Quite Serious
During a press conference in Davos (Switzerland), Nawrocki stated that “he expected something different from the MSZ.” He added: “However, the opinion of one of the deputy directors of one of the MSZ departments is a bit too little for a moment when the geopolitics of the world is changing and a new international organization is being formed.”
“The opinion of the deputy director – despite the fact that Minister Przydacz said that he is a very capable person – I would say not quite serious when it comes to cooperation between the MSZ and the President’s Chancellery. This is the only formal document we received,” Nawrocki concluded.