font_preload
PL / EN
Polish Briefing 10 January, 2018 9:00 am   
COMMENTS: Mateusz Gibała

Polish Briefing: Reconstruction of the government in Poland. Szyszko out, Tchórzewski stays

What goes on in Poland on the 10th of January.

New Mateusz Morawiecki’s government may mean a breakthrough in energy. This was made possible due to minister Szyszko’s quitting, who blocked nuclear energy. It is not yet known whether the Clean Air program will accelerate as it is hindered by the Ministry of Energy, whose head is staying.

Szyszko is quitting

On the 9th of January at high noon, the swearing-in of new ministers in Mateusz Morawiecki’s government took place. Minister of environment Jan Szyszko was not among them, as he was dismissed.

Henryk Kowalczyk was sworn in in his place. What is interesting, he took part in the last stage of winter package negotiations. Climate issues within the EU were Szyszko’s failure, especially the voting on backloading and the Modernization Fund.

– We want to be a government that combines economy with society – announced PM Mateusz Morawiecki. Combining these declarations and personal changes with the fact that on the day of reconstruction, PM met the President of the European Commission, one can speculate that relations with the EU are going to improve after recent dispute about reform of jurisdiction.

Changes in administration departments

Minister of energy Krzysztof Tchórzewski kept his position. It is not yet known whether the resort of energy will be responsible for exploration concessions management. It would be more likely if the resort from Wawelska Street was decommissioned. Jadwiga Emilewicz has become the minister of entrepreneurship and technology. Jerzy Kwieciński has become the minister of investments and development. Minister of infrastructure and construction Andrzej Adamczyk remained the minister of infrastructure – without construction.

This means that castlings in public administration can be expected, and what follows – division of competences within the government. This will be crucial for energy and environment sector. The president confirmed it, as he said that the changes will be „structural and organization”.

Nuclear energy and Clean Air

Minister of foreign affairs Witold Waszczykowski and minister of national defense Antoni Macierewicz lost their positions. They were replaced by Jacek Czaputowicz and Mariusz Błaszczak. From a point of view of energy and climate policy, more pressure of realizing postulates from Mateusz Morawiecki’s plan (Strategy of Responsible Development) should be expected. Ambitions of the Clean Air program may be hindered by the ministry of energy, but the nuclear program does not have its main opponent within the government.

Wojciech Jakóbik