Following the 2023 parliamentary elections in Poland, tensions have erupted between the newly formed government and President Andrzej Duda regarding the appointment of ambassadors. The dispute has highlighted differences in foreign policy approaches and the procedural challenges of diplomatic nominations.

In March 2024, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski dismissed over 50 ambassadors appointed by the previous administration. The move aimed to refresh the diplomatic corps and align it with the new government’s direction. However, President Duda, invoking his constitutional powers, refused to approve many of the proposed candidates, leading to a deadlock in staffing key diplomatic missions.

One of the most controversial cases involves the nomination of Bogdan Klich as ambassador to the United States. Klich, a former Minister of National Defence and Civic Platform senator, was put forward by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the post. President Duda opposed the nomination, reportedly citing Klich’s past criticism of Donald Trump and his involvement in events surrounding the 2010 Smolensk air disaster. As a result, Klich assumed the post in Washington in the temporary capacity of chargé d’affaires, a role that lacks the full authority of an ambassador.

Another example is the nomination of Ryszard Schnepf as ambassador to Italy. It was reported that former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki attempted to persuade Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to reject Schnepf’s appointment. However, the Italian government ultimately accepted the nomination.

Minister Sikorski has repeatedly stated that he had reached agreements with President Duda on ambassadorial nominations, which he believes were later broken by the president. In response, Sikorski announced in March 2025 that he would withdraw the pending nominations, suggesting that it would be better for new appointments to be made by Duda’s successor after the presidential election.

This prolonged conflict over ambassadorial appointments not only delays diplomatic procedures but also risks undermining Poland’s international image. In a time of global uncertainty and shifting geopolitical dynamics, coherence and efficiency in Polish diplomacy are crucial to safeguarding national interests.