Tensions between Poland’s pro-EU government, led by the Civic Coalition (KO), and President Karol Nawrocki - backed by the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party - have intensified after the head of state refused to approve both officer promotions and state honours, including awards for officers involved in countering foreign-linked acts of sabotage.
President blocks awards for officers countering sabotage: TVN24
According to reporting by TVN24, the President rejected all 130 award applications submitted by the Internal Security Agency (ABW), as well as a series of nominations from military intelligence bodies. Some of the rejected cases concerned officers recognised for their role in preventing hostile diversionary activities.
Only three award requests, signed earlier by former president Andrzej Duda, were returned to the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW), with a similar situation reported in the Military Intelligence Service (SWW).
The dispute extends to officer promotions. Nawrocki blocked 136 nominations to the first officer rank in the ABW and the SKW, despite the lists having been on his desk since summer.
The cancellations were formally confirmed when the President’s Chancellery sent the applications back to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The President has argued that he was unable to meet the heads of the services, claiming this prevented him from approving the promotions.
However, the scale of the refusal is considered unprecedented in Poland. TVN24 reports “crisis-level morale” within the services, with some officers telling the station they “do not understand why they are being punished”.
Senior government figures have openly criticised the President’s decision.
Poland’s security minister slams Nawrocki’s move
Tomasz Siemoniak, the minister overseeing Poland’s security and intelligence services, said the Nawrocki's decision "punished officers who risk their lives to counter foreign-backed sabotage." He added that the government would “take further decisions” in response.
Siemoniak also commented on social media, criticising the President’s refusal to grant state honours for Independence Day to special-service officers - including those involved in tackling acts of sabotage orchestrated by foreign intelligence.
“They risk their lives and health to keep Poland safe. They deserve our highest respect - and even the President’s disastrous decisions will not take that away. The whole country stands with you,” he wrote on his X profile.
FM criticises president for overstepping authority
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also weighed in, accusing President Nawrocki of acting as if Poland had switched to a presidential system.
“He does not appoint officers, he does not appoint judges, he does not appoint ambassadors - because he seems to want to govern as though the political system had changed, even though it has not,” Poland’s top diplomat wrote, referring to Nawrocki’s actions.
Despite the explanations from the President’s Office, the breadth of the refusals - especially on the eve of Poland’s Independence Day, when honours and promotions are traditionally awarded - had no modern precedent, critics said.
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Source: Polish Radio English Service/IAR/TVN24
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