Sikorski defends honour for Biedronka boss
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
31.07.2015 13:44
Former Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has defended his recommendation to honour the Portuguese head of supermarket Biedronka.
Flickr.com/Kompania Piwowarska
Radosław Sikorski, who acted as Foreign Minister of Poland between 2007 and 2014, had proposed the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland to be given to Pedro Pereira da Silva, head of one of Poland’s largest companies – supermarket Biedronka owned by Portugal's Jeronimo Martins – while still in office.
Pereira da Silva was awarded the honour by Polish President Bronisław Komorowski for his contribution to the development of the Polish economy, job creation, commitment to social and charitable activities and significant contribution to the development of trade relations between Poland and Portugal.
The issue was criticised by some, leading to a statement by incumbent Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna that the issue was a “storm in a teacup”, and that the nomination was made by his predecessor Radosław Sikorski.
In reply, Sikorski tweeted: “I apologise for the proposal to honour the largest private employer in the country. Mea culpa.” (rg/rk)