Polish politician Szymon Hołownia flew to Ethiopia on 3 November to meet UN officials and announced that he is Poland’s candidate for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, citing rising international backing.
Reason for Hołownia’s Trip to Ethiopia
Szymon Hołownia departed for Ethiopia on Monday, 3 November, where he met with Dr. Dimà Negewo, Chair of the Permanent Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security of the House of Representatives, and with Parfait Onanga‑Anyang, Special Representative of the UN Secretary‑General at the African Union. He explained that the trip was a parliamentary visit and emphasized that Poland had put him forward as its candidate for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Hołownia Confident About His Position?
On the campaign itself, Hołownia said he felt the Polish candidacy’s prospects had risen markedly. He noted that Parliament Speaker has held numerous talks in world capitals and that two additional states had declared their support for him. “Lithuania, Latvia, Albania, Slovenia, Croatia have expressed support; key African countries are crucial. Sierra Leone, currently chairing the UN Security Council, and Zambia back us,” he added. Work continues for Malawi, Vietnam and other ASEAN countries, with hope of further declarations later this week.
Tusk and Nawrocki Back Hołownia
Grand Marshal of the Sejm has said that in October the Head of the International Policy Office, Marcin Przydacz, proposed supporting Hołownia for the UN role. “During the conversation with UN Secretary‑General António Guterres, the President was already urging support for Hołownia,” Hołownia told “SuperExpress”. He recalled the backing received from Donald Tusk among others, highlighting that politicians had “activated personal contacts and our entire diplomatic machinery.”