Poland’s pro-EU government to remove 50 ambassadors appointed by the previous administration
Associated PressMar 14
Poland Orders Mass Recall of Ambassadors
The Facts
The Polish foreign ministry announced Wednesday that it had recalled 50 of its ambassadors — appointed by the previous Law and Justice government during its eight-year rule — in order to improve the country's diplomatic relations.
The move has been approved by pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk but has yet to be confirmed by Pres. Andrzej Duda — a critic of Tusk. If Duda objects to the changes, charges d'affaires or deputy ambassadors would run the affected diplomatic missions.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The recall of ambassadors named by the previous Euro-skeptic right-wing government is much needed to ensure professional implementation of the Polish foreign policy. This is vital as the country navigates through a challenging time in which, close to its own borders, Ukraine resists Russia's war of aggression.
Establishment-critical narrative
Tusk and his Cabinet have no constitutional legitimacy to appoint or dismiss ambassadors without presidential support, so this move is nothing but performative. While the constitution demands cooperation on foreign policy, this isn't to say that the president must sign all proposals from the prime minister.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Poland's Economist's Democracy Index will be at least 7.1 in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.