The political crisis in Poland, triggered by the controversies surrounding appointments to the Constitutional Tribunal, is continuing to escalate. Recently, Jakub Kumoch, Poland’s ambassador to China, has announced his resignation, a move that was quickly followed by Pawel Soloch, the ambassador to Romania.
Kumoch made his resignation public on the social media platform X, stating, “Given the current situation in the country, I have determined that I can no longer serve as the ambassador of the Republic of Poland. Effective immediately, I have submitted my resignation and requested to be recalled.”
In response, Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, criticized Kumoch’s decision, characterizing the manner in which he ended his assignment as unprofessional. “You no longer represent the Republic,” he declared. As of now, the Polish embassy in China has not issued an official statement regarding this matter.
Kumoch, who has served as Poland’s ambassador to China since September 2023, was previously appointed by then-President Andrzej Duda in July 2021 as the Secretary of State at the presidential office, overseeing international policy. According to reports from the Polish newspaper “Gazeta Polska,” Kumoch emerged as one of Duda’s closest aides following the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022. Poland has positioned itself as one of the most hardline European nations against Russia throughout this conflict.
Only hours after Kumoch’s announcement, Soloch also took to X to declare his resignation. “In light of attempts by certain individuals to illegally take over the Constitutional Tribunal, I find that I can no longer serve as the ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Romania,” he stated.
Between 2015 and 2022, Soloch served as an advisor to President Duda and was the head of the National Security Bureau.
The upheaval at the Constitutional Tribunal coincides with President Karol Nawrocki’s trip to Africa. In response to the growing crisis, he has abruptly canceled his itinerary, returning to Poland to intervene in the Tribunal’s affairs, aiming to thwart a takeover led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Following Kumoch’s resignation, numerous officials both within Poland and abroad have begun to announce their resignations or publicly affirm their loyalty solely to the president, indicating the ongoing spread of this political turmoil.
Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal, has ordered the suspension of both the president and the vice president of the court, declaring her intention to take control of the institution. Bogdan Swieczkowski, the president, has responded by asserting that Korwin-Piotrowska does not have the authority to undertake such actions and has accused those involved of attempting to instigate a “coup.”
Prior to these developments, several judges recently elected by the lower house were denied the opportunity to be sworn in by the president, effectively barring them from participating in court hearings. The Prime Minister’s camp has moved to suspend the president and vice president of the Constitutional Tribunal, while the president and conservative factions have accused the government of engaging in illegal power grabs.
Poland operates under a semi-presidential system, where the Prime Minister oversees the government, while the President serves as the head of state. While the Prime Minister manages domestic affairs and drives political initiatives, the President possesses critical veto and balancing powers, situating them as a key player in this ongoing power struggle within the Polish political landscape.