Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle: The Political Tug-of-War Shifts to Tusk

President Karol Nawrocki has initiated the process to revoke Volodymyr Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle, but the final legal validity of the move now rests solely with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The Basis for Revocation

President Karol Nawrocki announced the intent to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state decoration. This decision follows Zelensky’s move to rename an elite military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

Zelensky justified the naming as a tribute to historical military traditions and the unit’s role in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty. However, the reference to the UPA has triggered significant backlash in Poland due to the group’s historical role in the Volhynia massacres.

Constitutional Procedure and the Role of the Chapter

Under Polish law, the President may revoke an order if the recipient loses the dignity required to hold it. Nawrocki consulted the Order of the White Eagle’s chapter, which includes members such as Michał Kleiber, Zofia Romaszewska, and Bronisław Wildstein, before proceeding.

Despite the President’s initiative, the legal process is not complete within the Presidential Palace. The Constitution of the Republic of Poland requires the Prime Minister’s countersignature for such acts to take legal effect.

Tusk’s Crucial Decision

The final outcome hinges on Prime Minister Donald Tusk. A countersignature is not a mere formality; by signing, the head of government assumes political and constitutional responsibility for the act. Tusk holds the power to effectively block the revocation by refusing to sign the document.

The controversy underscores the friction between historical memory and current state relations. Should the procedure conclude formally, the potential refusal by Tusk could transform this historical dispute into a major political standoff between the government and the presidency.