“We’ll see how this cooperation will unfold […] between the head of state, that is, President Karol Nawrocki, and the government. It will likely be a very difficult partnership,” said Zbigniew Bogucki, a Law and Justice (PiS) MP and incoming Chief of Staff to President Karol Nawrocki, during an interview on Polish Radio’s “Jedynka.”
Karol Nawrocki won the 2025 presidential election. However, parts of the December 13 Coalition, led by Roman Giertych and unwilling to accept Rafał Trzaskowski’s defeat, attempted to “prove” that the election was rigged. These efforts, however, ultimately led nowhere.
The National Assembly, during which Karol Nawrocki will be officially sworn in as president, is scheduled for August 6. This has put the Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, at odds with the rest of the coalition.
It is worth recalling that for several days the government delayed publishing the official document in the Monitor Polski (Polish Monitor), drawing sharp criticism from the opposition. Media outlets also reported that members of the December 13 Coalition considered submitting a motion for a recess during the Assembly, voting in favor, and then not returning to the chamber. There was even speculation that, since the Chamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs declared the election valid – a body not recognized as a court by the EU Court of Justice – the election process had not formally concluded. The opposition is calling on Poles to gather outside the Sejm on August 6.
“It Will Be Difficult”
In light of these events, the question arises: what will cooperation between President Karol Nawrocki and the government look like?
Zbigniew Bogucki, who is officially expected to serve as Chief of Staff to the President, was asked about this, as well as about Nawrocki’s intention to take part in EU summits.
“I think it’s only natural. We’ll see how this cooperation […] between the head of state, President Karol Nawrocki, and the government will develop. It’s likely to be very difficult,” the politician admitted.
When asked whether the new president intends to actively participate in negotiations in Brussels, he responded:
“That’s one of the roles of the President of the Republic. I would remind you that the presidential mandate is arguably the strongest, since it comes directly from the people. President-elect Karol Nawrocki’s mandate is the most recent.”
“I can’t imagine Poland’s international positions being decided without consultation with the President of the Republic. That’s also what the Constitution requires. Of course, the government has a certain priority in these matters – for example, based on that [Constitutional Tribunal] ruling […] but again, I must stress: the most recent and most powerful mandate, granted directly by the people, belongs to the president-elect. The law clearly requires cooperation here,” he added, referring also to matters such as ambassadorial appointments.