– I am convinced that Karol Nawrocki is completing his squad in a way that shows that he intends to fight the democratic coalition government and Prime Minister Donald Tuski – so he responds to the nomination of Sławomir Cenckiewicz in an interview with prof. Tomasz Nałęcz, historian, erstwhile Deputy Marshal of the Sejm and advisor to president Bronisław Komorowski.
– And if the opinion is confirmed that the President's Chancellery is to be headed by Przemysław Czernek and that in the function of PiS vice president, this puzzle will complete. The President's office will become – contrary to the constitution – a place where the fight of the Law and Justice against the democratic majority will focus, he believes.
We talked about Cenckiewicz in early June, erstwhile the first signals began to circulate in the media about the fact that a controversial historian could be the head of the National safety Office.
– I wouldn't be surprised. Mr Cenckiewicz has already shown that he has proven himself as a soldier to fight KO and with the government – the prof. told us at the time.
"Cenckiewicz head of BBN?", "This is simply a mockery from the Polish Army"
Today, however, many are shocked. "Until you want to cry" – I read 1 of the first comments on X.
"This is simply a mockery from the Polish Army, from security, from the law. Nawrocks start worse than Duda. Much worse" – comments Ms Monika Wielichowska.
Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz reacts: "Cenckiewicz head of BBN?! A friend of the IPN with allegations concerning declassified parts of the Polish defence plan "Warta". It's individual who's a threat to the state, not protecting its safety."
Let us remind you, Sławomir Cenckiewicz led the Russian Influence Commission, lex Tusk. which in 2023 prepared a celebrated study attacking Donald Tusk and another KO politicians. He co-authored the documentary series "Reset", which set fire to the Polish right precisely 2 years ago. And head of the WSI Elimination Commission.
He besides has prosecutorial charges due to the publication of secret materials of the Polish army erstwhile he was manager of the Military Historical Office.
He doesn't associate with the activity he's going to do now.
Marek Siwiec: – From what he did, it does not appear that he knows about safety and global politics
– From what he has been doing so far as a scientist, student, author of books, it does not appear that he knows about national security. And it besides doesn't show that he knows about global politics, due to the fact that these things go in the package. That's the outward impression. This is what it looks like – comments Marek Siwiec, erstwhile Head of BBN from 1997 to 2004, present a permanent advisor to the Parliamentary Committee on abroad Affairs.
– People who start working in specified a serious position and do not have the right experience can do 2 things. Or trust on those who are acquainted with the problem. Or hurt each another by pretending to know each another better. And now he will have a choice – he says on Temat.
And the prosecution charges? Many people present rise the issue of access to classified information. How do you reconcile 1 with another? He doesn't think it matters to him right now.
– I've learned that very often, in specified cases, charges don't find a court final. I don't know. But 1 thing's for sure. Regardless of prosecutorial charges, he has respective political charges – he recalls.
Janusz Onyszkiewicz: – I do not know if Mr Cenckiewicz has specified knowledge
Meanwhile, Cenckiewicz's supporters are delighted. "An appropriate individual in this position", "A fantastic composition of the BBN" – comments flow.
– He's a determined man. I very much appreciate the state approach of the prof. – argued his choice Karol Nawrocki. “He is surely a safety expert,” said Andrzej Duda.
But others have doubts about this expertise.
– The president can, of course, choose his coworkers as he pleases. On the another hand, it would be good if the head of the BBN was individual who had a better orientation on matters of State security. I don't know if Mr. Cenckiewicz has that knowledge. possibly he'll get it. We'll see – commented on Janusz Onyszkiewicz, the erstwhile head of the MON.
He adds: – 1 should be aware that the BBN does not have a decision night. It's an organ that can advise the president on safety issues. It would be better if this advice were in the hands of individual who knows the safety of the state and he didn't gotta just get into it. We will see how Sławomir Cenckiewicz finds in this role.
Prof. Tomasz Nałęcz: – In the past of BBN, this has not happened so far.
Prof. Nałęcz points out who the Deputy Head of BBN will be. As announced, they are to be made by General Andrzej Kowalski (former Chief of Military Intelligence Service) and General Mirosław Bryś (former Head of Central Military Recruitment Centre).
– They're a lot more professional than he is. It's no accident that 2 generals will be deputy chief of the NSA. This has never happened in the past of the NSA. I think that a capable and ambitious Cenckiewicz, who lacks cognition about the essence of the BBN's action, will be surrounded by people who will absorb this weakness, which is simply a weak substantive discernment on these issues," he comments.
He adds: "The President-elect and the nominee for the Head of the BBN are seemingly aware of this substantive restriction.
Marek Siwiec thus refers to the issue of 2 generals as deputy chief of the BBN:
– It's so unusual that there's always 1 deputy in charge of the military. And the second civilian service. But if individual is simply a general, then at least I'm breathing with relief, due to the fact that those grades were mostly not made for Collegium Humanum, but something had to be done in life.
He says he wishes them the best. So we can all be satisfied. – Including erstwhile Heads of the BBN, who always look at this institution with a sigh of large sympathy – he adds.
Deputy Head of the National Defence Commission: – We are not confrontational
Cenckiewicz's nomination is controversial, but the choice has already been made. We'll gotta wait. We will see what happens next – the experts repeat. This belief besides prevails in the Parliamentary Committee on National Defence. With simultaneous concerns about the controversy of this nomination.
– In my opinion, this is the incorrect decision and the incorrect direction. The National safety Office is simply a very crucial body which is part of the state's resilience and security. He must work very closely with the General Staff, with the President, with the Parliament, and in peculiar with the National Defence Committee. I believe that the head of the BBN should be the individual who is more consistent with the subject of security, says Andrzej Szewinski, vice-president of the Parliamentary Committee on National Defence (PO).
– I fear that over the safety and resilience of the state Sławomir Cenckiewicz will put forward various kinds of political skirmishes – he believes.
And we know what the global situation is.
– As Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned, we live in pre-war times. Therefore, very close cooperation is needed at the level of bodies specified as BBN, so that the worst is not fulfilled and that there is no direct confrontation with the Russian Federation. In my opinion, the choice of the fresh Head of BBN is simply a clear message that can be read that it is simply a road towards confrontation – says Andrzej Szewinski.
But, as he besides points out, you gotta wait for what to happen next.
– I'm trying to get a clean slate. erstwhile it comes to security, we should put political wars aside. We'll see how he holds this position. possibly he will show any wisdom? It's hard to tell now. We can only debate – says the MP.
Andrzej Szewinski besides hears akin voices from another members of the committee. We're not confrontational. We are very serious about the safety and resilience of the state – he points out.
Nawrocki and Cenckiewicz on the BBN vision
Karol Nawrocki is not confrontational either. Announcing Cenckiewicz's name, he announced that he wanted "the Presidential Palace to be a hub for shaping Polish safety and military, military, civil, operational and analytical policies".
– I am convinced that we are going to have a successful cooperation with the national defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish in this regard, and the presidential centre will besides be working on the national safety strategy of the Republic, which we must adopt in this respect," he said.
Sławomir Cenckiewicz wrote this in an extended entry on X, here is simply a passage:
"BBN in the concept of president Karol Nawrocki will not by definition be either a sign of opposition or a simplification of a priorist protest, but creative support (also through its own projects) for all initiatives and institutions (including government institutions) that service state security, modernisation and professionalisation of the full safety section – from armed forces and peculiar services, through police and fire brigades to think thanks and bottom-up pro-defense and social initiatives. This should connect us!"
Cenckiewicz on the work to support patriotic attitudes and cultivate national traditions
So far there is simply a large anticipation of what to do next and what to expect. And besides connecting dots from what has already been known and what has been observed so far. Both after this appointment, after the president and his office.
– Regardless of what Mr Cenckiewicz will be like, who he will environment himself with and what his priorities will be, I was appeased by 1 thought in the speech of the President-elect. He said the only thing he expected from a Polish soldier was to be a patriot. And in this patriotism he sees the top warrant that we will be well defended," says Marek Siwiec.
As he adds, it is, of course, beautiful. – Only in times where we live, the Polish soldier should be a professional. And besides a professional able to work with allies. due to the fact that without it, 1 can be a immense patriot, know many songs or prayers and the effectiveness of fighting for our safety. If it were to turn out that we would focus on patriotic and patriotic-religious education, it would be fatal – he comments.
Cenckiewicz himself besides pointed out patriotism in the earlier mentioned entry on X. Writing about "one of the somewhat forgotten tasks of BBN", which, as he noted, Nawrock and him is peculiarly close. And that "that's all" in their imagination of BBN's action "will not be possible if we forget it".
"That is the work to support patriotic and pro-defensive attitudes and cultivate national traditions without which Poland's defence against threats would be simply impossible," he explained.
For now, we can speculate on what this could mean in practice.
And besides what to anticipate from Nawrocki's surroundings.
Sooner or later, they'll want to send Jarosław Kaczyński back to retirement.
Prof. Nałęcz believes that in the close future the control centre will definitely proceed to be located in Nowogordzka. But there's no telling what's going to happen next.
– A gathering at a law firm of political temperament, from the front lines of political disputes and organization fights, will mean that these people will besides want to scope for full power. And sooner or later, they will want to send Jarosław Kaczyński back to retirement," he says.
As he comments, people focused around Nawrocki have a metric advantage. And after his win, they may no longer want to have an overseer and a superior.
– If Kaczyński's plan were successful and indeed, thanks to the hurricane fire, which the president would have assumed the ruling majority, the PiS would have succeeded in taking power in 2027, this could be the last triumph of president Kaczyński, the historian concludes.
