Poland's pro-EU government to remove 50 ambassadors appointed by the previous administration
Poland's Foreign Ministry says it's cutting short the missions of 50 of the nation's ambassadors as part of efforts by the country's new pro-European Union government to improve the missions at a challenging time
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Poland is recalling 50 of its ambassadors as part of efforts by the new, pro-European Union government to improve diplomatic missions at a challenging time, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. The diplomats had all been appointed by the previous, right-wing administration.
A ministry statement did not name any of the ambassadors being recalled by Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski. The previous, Euro-skeptic government had ruled for eight years, until December. The ministry said the decision had been approved by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and that the procedure has begun.
The statement did not say when the recalled ambassadors would be replaced or if any foreign postings would be cut.
However, the recall of the diplomats may not get the approval of President Andrzej Duda, who has been linked to the previous government and is critical of Tusk. If Duda does not approve, in locations where ambassadors were told to return home, charges d’affaires would remain as heads of missions.
The statement said the change of the envoys was “necessary” and would serve a “better, professional implementation of the difficult tasks” facing Poland's foreign policy.
Tusk said this it was crucial to have a team of loyal envoys at a challenging time, when neighboring Ukraine is fending off Russia's full-scale war. He stressed it was “not a retaliation” against his predecessors.
Tusk has also said that he had high opinion of the work of Poland’s ambassador to Washington, Marek Magierowski, which suggested the envoy might not be recalled.