In a rather surprising and undiplomatic interview for "Rzeczpospolita" daily, former head of Polish diplomacy Jacek Czaputowicz speaks openly about his recently ended mission. Yet, the ruling party for which he had worked, did not seem to like his comments at all.
Until recently, one of Jacek Czaputowicz's trademarks was restraint, as well as something which every minister of foreign affairs should be known for - diplomatic comments. Today, the former minister can say a bit more than before, and he does. Among other things he mentions in the interview for "Rzeczpospolita" are tensions within the cabinet.
At first the prime minister was a mediator between ministers, for instance, between myself and minister Ziobro with regard to the rule of law and the strategy before the CJEU. Nowadays, the prime minister has become a side in disputes with minister Ziobro.
The interview for "Rzeczpospolita" has not helped him to find allies within the United Right ruling coalition, as the former foreign minister criticises the cabinet for chaos in relations with Brussels, especially since the PM's office has became responsible for them, instead of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
More keen to comment on former chief of diplomacy's words were the opposition members. Especially given that Jacek Czaputowicz lists his distaste for confrontational style displayed by the ruling camp as one of the reasons behind his departure.
"Jacek Czaputowicz tells like it is" - argues Civic Platform lawmaker Michał Szczerba. "It was too hard (for him) to remain in a cabinet so conflicted, actually ran by Zbigniew Ziobro through all the leverage he's been gathering on PiS members over the last five years," he added.
Former Prime Minister Beata Szydło called Czaputowicz's interview "unprofessional and harmful" to his predecessor Witold Waszczykowski. That's because Czaputowicz said, among other things, that he had fixed relations with Germany, and especially with America, which in his opinion "broke down completely after amending of the IPN law" (the law on the Institute of National Remembrance).
Jacek Czaputowicz speaks highly of his successor Zbigniew Rau, but draws attention to his former office and how it's being politicised.
There's no one in the rank of minister or deputy minister in the MSZ (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) who went through diplomatic academy, climbed up the career ladder, or was at least sent out on a diplomatic mission.
"Polish foreign policy and the MSZ are not being ran by care for national and state interest, but rather by care for the wellbeing of the ruling party. He actually says it in this interview. Great pity that he wasn't trying to change that when he was in charge," said Civic Platform senator and former Polish Ambassador to Canada, Marcin Bosacki.
Jacek Czaputowicz became the chief of Polish diplomacy in January 2018. His main task was to alleviate disputes with Brussels. It was for that reason Jarosław Kaczyński called his mission "an experiment". Czaputowicz admitted quite surprisingly in "Rzeczpospolita" that he had consulted some issues with Kaczyński. For instance, inviting German Foreign Minister to the recent commemorations of the Warsaw Uprising outbreak anniversary.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvn24.pl