“Several days ago, Minister Sikorski wrote that the President had blocked decorations for officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He did not block them,” said Rafał Leśkiewicz, the President’s spokesperson. On Thursday, a ceremony to present these decorations will take place at the Belweder Palace. Sikorski has also been invited to attend.
Sikorski’s Dispute with the President
In November this year, Radosław Sikorski attacked President Karol Nawrocki, claiming that the head of state allegedly wanted “to govern as if the system had been changed to a presidential one, even though the system has not changed.”
“He does not appoint officers, he does not appoint judges, he does not appoint ambassadors—because he would like to govern as if the system had been changed to a presidential one, even though the system has not changed,” the foreign minister wrote.
He later complained that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted 95 applications for the ‘Medal for Long Service,’ of which only 48 were approved by the President.”
“We did not receive information on the basis of which criteria the length of service of half of the employees was deemed inferior,” Sikorski added.
His remarks were then addressed by Rafał Leśkiewicz, the President’s spokesperson.
“Dear Minister, the Medal for Long Service is not an award ‘for seniority alone.’ The legislator intended it for individuals who have demonstrated exemplary and exceptionally diligent performance of their duties. The President therefore approved those applications in which such criteria were reliably documented,” he explained.
He also emphasized that “length of service alone is not the sole criterion for awarding this decoration.”
“I encourage you, in the future, to devote at least a bit more care to preparing the justifications for applications for the Medal for Long Service,” he appealed.
Today, Leśkiewicz announced that on Thursday a ceremony will be held at the Belweder Palace to present these decorations to officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Mr. Radosław Sikorski has, of course, been invited. The decorations will be presented by Agnieszka Jędrzak, Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President, and a letter from the President of the Republic of Poland will be read on his behalf. Several days ago, Minister Sikorski wrote that the President had blocked decorations for officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He did not block them,” Leśkiewicz concluded.