Sławomir Cenckiewicz resigned as head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, citing unlawful actions by the Tusk government restricting his access to classified information.
Cenckiewicz Announces Resignation
National Security Bureau (BBN) Chief Sławomir Cenckiewicz announced his resignation on Thursday, with General Andrzej Kowalski appointed as acting head. Cenckiewicz attributed his decision to what he described as unlawful actions by the government of Donald Tusk, alleging a disregard for court rulings and unjustified denial of access to classified information.
Cenckiewicz stated his departure aims to relieve the President’s Office from ongoing pressure and interference stemming from his status as an “public enemy” of the Tusk, Sikorski, and Kosiniak-Kamysz government. He will continue to collaborate with Karol Nawrocki as an advisor and actively support PiS candidate Przemysław Czarnek for prime minister.
Security Clearance Revocation and Legal Battles
Cenckiewicz’s security clearance, required for access to classified information, was revoked by the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) in July 2024. He appealed the decision, and the Warsaw Administrative Court overturned it on June 17 of the previous year. The Prime Minister’s Chancellery filed a cassation appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court.
Last week, the Supreme Administrative Court rejected the Prime Minister’s Chancellery’s appeal. However, a spokesperson for the Minister Coordinating Special Services, Jacek Dobrzyński, clarified that the ruling does not automatically restore Cenckiewicz’s access to classified information, emphasizing a verification process is still underway.
Reactions to Cenckiewicz’s Departure
Rafał Bochenek, a spokesperson for Law and Justice (PiS), characterized Cenckiewicz’s resignation as a patriotic stance against a government he claims is “devastating the state” in various sectors. Michał Dworczyk, a PiS MEP, praised Cenckiewicz’s work and expressed confidence in his future contributions to Poland.
Conversely, Minister-Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak labeled Cenckiewicz’s statement as “hysterical” and asserted it confirmed why he should not have held the position or had access to state secrets. He expressed confidence in General Kowalski’s ability to operate within legal frameworks.
Government Spokespersons Weigh In
Jacek Dobrzyński, the spokesperson for the Minister-Coordinator, stated that Cenckiewicz had not had access to classified information for over seven months, describing his leadership of the BBN during that time as “fictional.” Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, described the situation as a “new stage of cooperation” with the BBN, hoping for reduced tension and increased collaboration.
Opposition and Parliamentary Responses
Senator Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska suggested Cenckiewicz’s resignation was due to serious underlying reasons and that he had “given up” after a year of maintaining everything was in order. Adrian Witczak, a KO MP, claimed Cenckiewicz resigned because his position was becoming untenable due to the access to classified information issue, preferring to avoid potential embarrassment.
Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz (Polska 2050) stated Cenckiewicz “never should have been there,” emphasizing the importance of security clearances for individuals in such positions.