Bogdan Klich, a former defense minister and MEP, will take up diplomatic duties representing Poland in Washington from Monday, a foreign ministry spokesman has told TVP World.
Klich will serve as chargés d'affaires in Washington with the official title of “Minister Plenipotentiary.” He said he had recently visited the U.S. capital to review Polish diplomatic staff and embassy facilities there.
Klich was put forward by Poland’s centrist prime minister, Donald Tusk, after Warsaw’s previous ambassador to the U.S., Marek Magierowski, stepped down in July.
But Andrzej Duda, the conservative Polish president, has refused to officially appoint Klich as ambassador despite political pressure from parliament to sign off on government nominees.
A standoff emerged between the presidential palace and government after the foreign ministry announced in March it would recall more than 50 Polish envoys. Their replacements can only hold full ambassadorial roles if endorsed by the president.
Of around 100 Polish embassies globally, as of July, 23 were headed by chargés d'affaires.
Klich was put forward by Poland’s centrist prime minister, Donald Tusk, after Warsaw’s previous ambassador to the U.S., Marek Magierowski, stepped down in July.
But Andrzej Duda, the conservative Polish president, has refused to officially appoint Klich as ambassador despite political pressure from parliament to sign off on government nominees.
A standoff emerged between the presidential palace and government after the foreign ministry announced in March it would recall more than 50 Polish envoys. Their replacements can only hold full ambassadorial roles if endorsed by the president.
Of around 100 Polish embassies globally, as of July, 23 were headed by chargés d'affaires.
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