In a formal ceremony on Wednesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda appointed Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the governing Law and Justice party (PiS), as the sole deputy prime minister in the government.
This move came after President Duda dismissed four previous deputy prime ministers, namely Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, Culture Minister Piotr Glinski, State Assets Minister Jacek Sasin, and Minister without Portfolio Henryk Kowalczyk, from their positions.
However, Duda simultaneously reappointed Blaszczak as the defense minister, Glinski as the culture minister, Sasin as the state assets minister, and Kowalczyk as the government minister.
Kaczynski had resigned from his post as deputy prime minister and head of the security committee in June 2022 to focus on party matters. He had been leading the security committee since October 2020.
During the appointment ceremony, President Duda emphasized the significance of Kaczynski’s expertise in security affairs. Duda praised Kaczynski’s efforts in preparing the homeland defense law, which he considered a crucial measure for bolstering Poland’s military security, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The law also enables the Defence Ministry to make substantial armament purchases for the Polish army.
President Duda emphasized the need for stringent supervision of security matters, including military equipment acquisitions, at the highest level within the Council of Ministers.
He expressed his confidence in Kaczynski’s ability to fulfill these responsibilities effectively, given his role as the leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, which Duda regarded as the most influential political force.
Additionally, Duda underscored the importance of enhancing Polish security due to the potential threat of Russian interference in the upcoming general election in the autumn.
Kaczynski, who previously served as prime minister from 2006 to 2007 in a previous PiS government, has often preferred to remain behind the scenes in Polish politics. He has typically delegated the running of the country to politicians with less controversial reputations, such as the current Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki. However, as party president, Kaczynski has exerted significant influence over the government.