The Polish Institute of National Remembrance’s (IPN) college interviewed ten candidates Tuesday for the position of president, with a recommendation expected this evening.
IPN Presidential Candidates Interviewed
The IPN college interviewed ten candidates vying for recommendation as president of the Institute of National Remembrance on Tuesday. The IPN college’s recommended candidate will be announced this evening after the resolution is submitted to the Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland.
The Tuesday hearing was the second stage of the competition. Ten candidates were qualified: Dr. hab. Przemysław Benken, Dr. Leszek Buller, Dr. Tomasz Ceglarz, Dr. Aldona Dydek, Dr. Arkadiusz Kazański, Dr. Marek Kołłątaj, Dr. Maciej Kossowski, Dr. Joanna Napierała, Dr. Emilian Prałat, and Dr. Mateusz Szpytma.
Candidate Presentations and Concerns
Candidates had 10 minutes to present their achievements and planned vision for the IPN, followed by 20 minutes of questions from college members. This concluded the public portion of the session.
Candidates highlighted what they considered insufficient promotion of Polish history abroad and the need to reach younger audiences domestically. Concerns were raised regarding low salaries at the IPN, contributing to high staff turnover and making the institution less attractive to researchers.
Voting Procedure and Potential Outcomes
The IPN college will now vote in a secret ballot to select a candidate for IPN president, requiring an absolute majority. If no candidate achieves an absolute majority in the first round, a second vote will be held with a simple majority, involving the two candidates with the highest vote totals.
If no candidate secures the required majority, the college will declare the competition inconclusive and reopen it. In the event of a decisive vote, the nomination will be forwarded to the Marshal of the Sejm. The Sejm, with the Senate’s consent, will make the final decision on appointing the IPN president.
Second Competition Following Presidential Election
This is the second consecutive competition for the IPN presidency, necessitated by the election of the former president, Dr. Karol Nawrocki (in office since 2021), as President of the Republic of Poland. The first competition, held in October 2025, recommended the current Vice-President, Dr. hab. Karol Polejowski, but he did not secure the necessary majority in the Sejm, requiring a restart of the process.
Presidential Term and Legal Protections
The IPN president serves a five-year term and operates independently of state authorities. No individual can serve more than two consecutive terms. The law also stipulates that the IPN president cannot be criminally prosecuted or deprived of liberty without the Sejm’s consent, with exceptions for being caught in the act of a crime or when detention is essential for proper legal proceedings.
Past IPN Presidents and Responsibilities
Past presidents of the Institute include Leon Kieres, Janusz Kurtyka, Łukasz Kamiński, Jarosław Szarek, and Karol Nawrocki.
Qualifications and Restrictions for Candidates
The law governing the Institute defines the president’s competencies. Candidates must demonstrate high moral character and knowledge relevant to the IPN’s work, including familiarity with the Institute’s statute, lustratory regulations, prosecution, archives, and war graves. While a historical background is not mandatory, a doctoral degree is required. Candidates cannot have worked with or collaborated with communist security agencies.
The IPN president cannot be a member of a political party or trade union (and must be willing to resign if they are) or engage in other professional activities except for holding a professorship at a higher education institution. The position cannot be combined with a mandate as a Member of Parliament or Senator, and candidates cannot be members of the IPN college.
About the Institute of National Remembrance
The Institute of National Remembrance is Poland’s largest scientific and archival institution, focusing on Polish history from 1917 to 1990.
The Institute’s mission, as stated in the preamble to its founding law, is to preserve the memory of the victims, losses, and damages suffered by the Polish nation during and after World War II, as well as the memory of patriotic struggles against Nazism and Communism and the actions of citizens for Polish independence. The IPN is also responsible for prosecuting crimes against peace, humanity, and war crimes, and for seeking redress for those harmed by states violating human rights.
IPN Structure and Budget
The IPN, with an annual budget of approximately 610 million PLN and employing around 2,500 people, comprises the Bureau of Historical Research, the Main Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes Against the Polish Nation, the IPN Archives, the Lustration Office, the Search and Identification Bureau, the Office for Commemorating Struggles and Martyrdom, and the National Education Office.
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