WARSAW: Poland’s chief of staff and army head of operations quit on Tuesday, sparking the biggest crisis the country’s armed forces have seen in years, just days before crunch parliamentary polls.
The two generals did not disclose a reason for their resignation, according to AFP news agency.
But Polish media said they had decided to resign after a long-running conflict with Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and were opposed to attempts by Blaszczak to involve the military in the campaign for Sunday’s closely fought legislative elections.
Colonel Joanna Klejszmit, Andrzejczak’s spokeswoman, said that General Rajmund Andrzejczak submitted his resignation on Monday.
She said that, like any soldier, he is entitled to resign without giving a reason.
The army head of operations, General Tomasz Piotrowski, also resigned.
Poland’s National Security Bureau said President Andrzej Duda would accept the resignations of Andrzejczak and Piotrowski, who had been in post since 2018.
BBN head Jacek Siewiera told reporters that from the president’s and BBN’s point of view, it is absolutely important to maintain continuity of command and efficiency of operations.
He added that candidates’ nominations to fill the two vacant posts would start on Tuesday.
Stray Missile Attack in Poland
Earlier this year, defense minister Blaszczak accused Piotrowski of not properly searching for debris from a stray missile that fell in northwest Poland and of failing to inform anyone of the incident.
The remains of a Russian KH-55 cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads were found by a passer-by close to the northern city of Bydgoszczin in April, around four months after it landed, Polish media said.
Bydgoszczin is around 500 kilometers west of NATO member Poland’s border with Belarus.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that he had only been informed of the missile incident at the end of April, even though Andrzejczak said he had informed those in charge “at the time of the event”.
Donald Tusk, the leader of the largest party in opposition, said he had been told that ten other top army officers had also quit, a claim which has been denied by the general staff.
The opposition is now demanding for the defense minister to resign as well.
