Polish Minister of State Security Tomasz Siemoniak condemned President Karol Nawrocki’s refusal to approve first‑rank officer promotions, citing violations of established protocols.
Siemoniak Criticises President’s Decision
On Saturday, Minister of State Security Tomasz Siemoniak took to X to denounce President Karol Nawrocki’s refusal to approve officer promotions. He said the president had always adhered to rules and communicated special‑service matters with the prime minister with the latter’s consent. He warned that he would refuse to sign first‑rank promotions even if the government–president relationship was strained.
Siemoniak also attacked the notion of calling for heads of special services, subordinate to the prime minister, to meet individually with the president – a practice that had never been agreed upon. He claimed that such actions and the blocking of promotions do not serve the state.
Statement from the Minister of State Security
He reiterated that the president, like his predecessors, receives confidential information appropriate to his rank and responsibilities, as do authorised officials of his office. He reminded that regulations regulating the president’s cooperation with special services do not provide for individual briefings between the president and a service head.
Siemoniak underlined that, in addition to exchanged documents, the College for Special Services – comprising representatives of the president and the BBN – is the main form of cooperation.
President Nawrocki Rejects First‑Rank Promotions
Nawrocki refused to sign the promotions to the first officer rank for members of the Internal Security Agency and the Military Counterintelligence Service. The presidential palace has yet to justify the decision. A total of 136 persons were slated to receive the promotion.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted a video on X condemning the decision, stating that the action undermines patriots who trained as officers and were waiting for their promotions before November 11.
Reactions from the Intelligence Community
Spokesperson Jacek Dobrzyński told Polish Radio that the decision is unprecedented and that all candidates for promotion have the required qualifications. He added that ABW and SKW officials were surprised and offended by the order.
Vice‑Secretary of State for Defence Cezary Tomczyk said the president’s actions block not only the further careers of those individuals but also their ability to perform duties essential to national security.