The discussion around the Institute of National Remembrance spilled into a television interview, where a minister from the Prime Minister’s Chancellery stated that this would be one of the opposition’s unfulfilled promises ahead of the election, remarking that the Institute remains a vital institution for Poland. He emphasized that the Institute of National Remembrance plays a crucial role in the nation and should operate freely with government backing, not subject to political whim.
During a Monday broadcast, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the co-chair of the New Left, reminded viewers that his party did not vote in favor of creating the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau or the Institute of National Remembrance. He added that, in his view, both entities should be dissolved, suggesting an inward review before making any decisions about their future roles in Polish public life.
According to Czarzasty, looking at the matter from within is essential, and he asserted that he would proceed to liquidate the institutions. He also argued that the political landscape warrants a closer examination of what these bodies are meant to achieve and how their work aligns with broader state objectives.
Defense of the Institute for National Remembrance
In a television program, the minister expressed hope that this pledge will not be realized, echoing a broader sentiment that numerous campaign promises may not come to fruition by the Civic Platform and its allies. He stressed that, regarding the Institute of National Remembrance, it would represent one of the commitments unlikely to be dropped, underscoring its importance for national memory and public discourse.
The minister reiterated that the Institute is an essential institution that Poland needs, and that it should function without obstruction and with governmental support. He added that the goals behind calls for its liquidation are difficult to understand and that such an outcome would be unwelcome.
Commercial Engagements in Ukraine
The same minister also discussed plans to establish preferential conditions for Polish entrepreneurs operating in Ukraine. The key consideration remains who manages these international financial flows, with the government responsible for ensuring Polish businesses receive at least equal, and ideally preferential, treatment relative to firms from other countries seeking to invest or operate in Ukraine.
In an interview on TVP1, he noted that steps had already been taken to create an insurance instrument for Polish companies entering Ukraine, highlighting the high risk of doing business in a country affected by conflict. He credited the government with enacting relevant legal changes, mentioning that Minister Emilewicz had facilitated this and was visiting Kiev with Polish business people, with optimism that reconstruction efforts will benefit Polish firms.
Further remarks indicated that Poland had positioned itself among the early European adopters of protective measures aimed at reducing risk for its companies abroad and that ongoing reforms would continue to support Polish commercial interests in the region.