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 country’s foreign ministry has said.
In its statement, the ministry said the change of the envoys was “necessary” and would serve a “better, professional implementation of the difficult tasks” facing Poland’s foreign policy.
Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, said it was crucial to have a team of loyal envoys when neighbouring Ukraine is fending off Russia’s full-scale war. He stressed it was “not a retaliation” against his predecessors.
The diplomats had all been appointed by the previous, rightwing administration which governed for eight years until December, when a three-way opposition alliance won an overall majority in Poland’s elections and took power with Donald Tusk as prime minister.
The government statement did not name any of the ambassadors being recalled by foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, and did not say when the recalled ambassadors would be replaced or if any foreign postings would be cut.
But the ministry did say the procedure had begun.
The Associated Press reported that the recall of the diplomats may not get the approval of President Andrzej Duda, who has been linked to the previous rightwing government and is critical of Tusk.
If Duda does not approve of the changes, the charges d’affaires would remain as heads of missions in locations where ambassadors were told to return home.
Tusk said that he had high opinion of the work of Poland’s ambassador to the US, Marek Magierowski, which suggested that particular envoy might not be recalled.
During its years in power, the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party were accused of eroding the rule of law in Poland, rolling back abortion rights and targeting minorities. Its actions prompted a feud with the EU over issues ranging from judicial independence to LGBTQ+ rights.
After Tusk was confirmed as prime minister in December he vowed to “fix everything”.
“We will be able to right the wrongs so that everyone, without exception, can feel at home,” he said at the time.
With Associated Press and Jon Henley
