Warsaw: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk unveiled a new Cabinet line-up on Wednesday, aiming to breathe new life into his centrist government before right-wing populist Karol Nawrocki takes office as president. Tusk stated that the reshuffle is designed to safeguard national order, external security, and Poland's future.
According to Ghana News Agency, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, one of the country's most popular politicians, has also been appointed as deputy prime minister. This move appears to position Sikorski as a potential successor to Tusk, as noted by the daily Rzeczpospolita.
In a key change at the Interior Ministry, Marcin Kierwinski will replace Tomasz Siemoniak, who will remain in the Cabinet as the coordinator of special services. Tusk also announced the reorganization of the government, which includes the creation of two super ministries. A new Ministry of Energy will be established from parts of the current climate, environment, and industry portfolios, to be led by Milosz Motyka. Additionally, the Finance and Economy ministries will merge under the leadership of Andrzej Domanski. This reshuffle will reduce the number of ministries from 26 to 21.
Tusk's reshuffle is an attempt to regain political footing as President-elect Nawrocki, a staunch EU skeptic, is set to take office on August 6. Polish presidents hold the power to veto legislation, a tool Nawrocki is expected to use more aggressively than his predecessor, Andrzej Duda, who also had clashes with Tusk's pro-European coalition.
Nawrocki's presidency could mark a significant shift in both domestic and foreign policy for Poland, an EU and NATO member state. Tusk is currently dealing with mounting tensions within his coalition, which spans three electoral alliances and has struggled to fulfill many of its 2023 campaign promises, including liberalizing abortion laws and reforming the judiciary to strengthen the rule of law.
Tusk emphasized the need for unity among coalition partners, stating, "The dispute must end. All coalition partners must understand that unity is expected." Meanwhile, the conservative opposition, led by the former ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party and its right-wing allies, has experienced a resurgence in the polls.
