The Foreign Minister does not have the authority to recall ambassadors on his own, though he is the senior official in the ministry and can initiate the process. The post then becomes overseen by the chargé d’affaires, as explained by former Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz in an interview with PAP.
On Wednesday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the head of the ministry, Radosław Sikorski, had decided to terminate the missions of more than fifty ambassadors and withdraw several candidacies that had been submitted for approval by the ministry’s prior leadership. It was noted that practical appeal procedures have begun in connection with these moves.
Czaputowicz stressed that Sikorski did not dismiss anyone outright; he simply began a formal process that could lead to changes in representation.
This aligns with the Foreign Service Convention, which outlines the personnel changes that must be carried out. The president is the one who can recall ambassadors, and after a decision by the Prime Minister, the minister submits a request to the president for recall, with the president then appointing new candidates.
From Czaputowicz’s perspective, those affected are on a rotation list that is expected to take effect in the summer, a process that may require several months to complete.
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Foreign Service Act
Czaputowicz argued that the Foreign Service Act, which came into force in 2021, introduced a change whereby ambassadors are treated as political appointments rather than career diplomats. Previously, ambassadors were selected from career diplomats who met specific criteria and could serve under any government. This shift has altered the traditional framework.
He noted that the then head of the Foreign Ministry, Zbigniew Rau, asserted that ambassadors are political actors who represent the parliamentary majority, much like ministers and state secretaries do.
In this context, the president is asked to weigh Sikorski’s requests carefully. According to Czaputowicz, the president should have substantial justification to approve or reject a recall or appointment, and it may be challenging to show that one candidate better embodies the parliamentary majority than another. What matters is the support of the parliamentary majority rather than a simple assessment of competence.
The former foreign minister’s view is that the system is flawed and should be reformed so that ambassadors are, in essence, career diplomats again.
He also reiterated that the minister of foreign affairs cannot dismiss ambassadors unilaterally, though he remains their superior. The minister can summon an ambassador back to the home country, which can leave the post temporarily vacant and managed by a chargé d’affaires.
Historian Janusz Sibora, a specialist in diplomatic protocol, emphasized that while the ambassador is appointed by the head of state, in exceptional circumstances a chargé d’affaires ad interim can temporarily replace him. The chargé is appointed by the permanent head of mission, for example in cases of illness or other impediments, and the head of mission reports this to the foreign ministry of the receiving country. The distinction between ambassador and chargé d’affaires lies primarily in precedence, not in powers or immunities. The formal process for appointing a chargé is straightforward: the current head of mission completes the accreditation paperwork and informs the receiving country, naming the successor and the new position.
If fifty ambassadors were recalled, the country would be left without ambassadors, and the minister, independent of the president, could appoint a chargé d’affaires to maintain representation.
When President Duda was questioned about the ambassadors during a visit to the United States, he stated that no Polish ambassador could be appointed or recalled without the president’s signature, highlighting the president’s pivotal role in this area.
This underscores the central importance of presidential decisions in matters of ambassadorial appointments and recalls.
On Thursday, the head of the Council of Ministers’ office indicated that requests to recall ambassadors had not reached the president yet.
Under the Foreign Service Act, ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president with the minister responsible for foreign affairs proposing the changes and the prime minister giving approval. The minister is expected to seek input from the Foreign Service Convention before submitting such applications. The Convention includes the minister or a designated senior official as chair, the head of the Foreign Service, and representatives from the president’s and prime minister’s offices.
READ ALSO: An overview of recent ambassador recalls. It raises questions about how the president views prospective appointments and dismissals, and how Sikorski’s approach is perceived at the highest levels of government.
mly/PAP
In summary, the current framework places significant influence on the president and the parliamentary majority in shaping ambassadorial assignments, with the minister operating within a formal chain that includes consultations with the Foreign Service Convention.