Logo Polskiego Radia

Heads roll in Kopacz government shakeup

PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp 10.06.2015 22:09
A number of key ministerial positions within PM Ewa Kopacz’s cabinet as well as other top political posts have been vacated after a mass resignation following the leak of confidential documents.
Ministers Bartosz Arłukowicz, Andrzej Biernat and Włodzimierz Karpiński. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara/Bartłomiej Zborowski/Rafał GuzMinisters Bartosz Arłukowicz, Andrzej Biernat and Włodzimierz Karpiński. Photo: PAP/Marcin Obara/Bartłomiej Zborowski/Rafał Guz

At a late afternoon press conference on Wednesday, Kopacz announced that among those to get the sack are Health Minister Bartosz Arłukowicz, Treasury Minister Włodzimierz Karpiński and Sports Minister Andrzej Biernat.

Chief advisor to PM Kopacz Jacek Rostowski has also resigned, as has head of the special services Jacek Cichocki, although he remains the head of the PM Chancellery.

A string of further resignations were made in a number of ministries.

Radosław
Radosław Sikorski walks past a poster with a slogan saying "we build trust" after leaving parliament on Wednesday, 10.06.2015. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak

One of the key resignations was made by Speaker of the Sejm lower parliamentary house, Radosław Sikorski.

Sikorski said that he was retiring from his post, explaining that the Civic Platform (PO) party is “more important” than his “personal ambitions.”

He added that PO is the “only party which can still maintain the position for which Poland has worked for on the international and national stage.”

“As a deputy-head of the Civic Platform, [I feel] that its interests are more important than my personal ambitions. I will continue to work on the success of the party in the upcoming elections,” Sikorski told journalists on Wednesday.

Sikorski was one of the central figures in the leaked tapes which saw him complaining about government policies and foreign politicians, including British PM David Cameron.

The former foreign minister added that he will continue serving as speaker until his successor is named.

Nominations shortly

Government spokeswoman Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska said that a list of new nominations will not be available for at least five days.

“The names of the successors to the ministers dismissed by Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz will be announced next week,” Kidawa-Błońska said.

On Wednesday evening, Kidawa-Błońska added that the new parliamentary speaker will probably be chosen during the 23-25 June parliamentary session.

“During the current sitting we will most likely not be able to choose a new speaker,” she said. (rg/jb)

Print
Copyright © Polskie Radio S.A About Us Contact Us