An yearly gathering with the heads of diplomatic missions is usually a carefully directed protocol ritual. This time, however, the top emotions aroused not speeches, but the setting of chairs in the front row. On 1 side of the first lady, the president sat, on the another – Deputy Prime Minister and abroad Minister, Radosław Sikorski.
Cameras recorded the minute erstwhile both politicians exchanged smiles and spoke to each other. There was no distance or chill to which their last public statements were accustomed. Photos rapidly circulated social media, and commentators began to speculate whether it was the announcement of a political truce or just a short-lived motion for the needs of a diplomatic salon.
From ambassadors to "short fuse"
Since the beginning of Karol Nawrocki's term, relations between the Palace and the MFA have been strained. The president openly criticized the government's actions in abroad policy, and the chief of diplomacy responded with sharp comments on the network. The dispute is peculiarly evident in the casting of key facilities.
The abroad Minister has decided to make a deep exchange of staff. About 50 ambassadors, including experienced diplomats from Washington and Rome, were recalled to the country. The president felt that this was done without due justification and halted any of the fresh nominations. In many countries, Polish interests are now represented by charge d’affaires, not full ambassadors, which, in the opinion of both parties, is not the target, although they disagree about the guilty.
As a separate theme, the dispute over the cast of the facility in the United States grew. The head of state made it clear that he would not accept Bogdan Klich's candidacy. In turn, Sikorski's people remind that the proposal for a comprehensive solution to the issue of ambassadors had already arrived at the Palace in the autumn, and for the following weeks it did not receive an answer.
Invitation to January 26th. "President is ready to talk"
The signal of a possible break in the deadlock came from the President's Chancellery. The head of the global Policy Bureau reported that Karol Nawrocki again invites the abroad Minister to discuss the appointments of ambassadors. The circumstantial deadline is January 26th, 14 p.m.
The President's Minister stresses that the head of state wants to end a protracted dispute, but expects concrete action from the MFA. In the background, there is inactive a question of justification for the mass cancellation of existing ambassadors and of uncovering candidates who will be acceptable to both centres of power.
The speech of the typical of the Palace besides shows that the candidacy of Bogdan Klich in Washington is actually a closed chapter. In the opinion of the President, a fresh proposal must be sought for a key facility and at the same time explain why erstwhile ambassadors were brought to the country so quickly.
The nominations have been waiting for a signature for weeks
The abroad Ministry immediately responded to the invitation. A spokesperson for the Ministry stressed that the Ministry of abroad Affairs accepted them with conviction and treated them as an chance for a substantive conversation. At the same time, he recalled that as early as October the head of diplomacy sent the president a detailed proposal to solve the problem, and for over 3 months he had not received an answer.
According to the Ministry of abroad Affairs, respective twelve nominations are presently waiting on the desk at the Palace, which have not yet been signed. According to the Ministry, until this process moves, it is hard to talk about the full efficiency of Polish diplomacy. Without ambassadors in hub capitals, it is harder to build influences, respond to crises and prosecute long-term abroad policy.
Is this the beginning of a truce between the Palace and the MFA?
Although the pictures from the Palace show politicians in good spirits, a key test only before them. The gathering scheduled for the end of January is to answer the question of whether a compromise can be reached that will reconstruct the average rhythm of abroad service.
The success of the talks depends not only on the cast of the most crucial institutions, but besides on the credibility of Poland as a partner who can combine the actions of the president and the government with a coherent strategy. The smiles captured by the cameras may be the first signal of relaxation. Or just a short break in a dispute that will paralyze Polish diplomacy for longer.
