Poland recalls ambassador to Hungary

Hungary's Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Levente Magyar announced that Poland has recalled its ambassador to Hungary, officially lowering the level of diplomatic relations between the two Central European countries.

“Poland has finally recalled its ambassador to Hungary, officially lowering the level of bilateral diplomatic relations,” Magyar wrote on Facebook. He described the move as “a regrettable step, which is unprecedented in the history of relations with our Central European partners,” attributing it to the “gradual deterioration of political relations,” Caliber.Az reports per Polish media.

Despite the tensions, Magyar emphasised that “this is a temporary situation that will not ruin the historic friendship between Hungary and Poland.” He added, “Despite the current political disputes, we are ready to maintain dialogue, preparing for the coming good times in our alliance.”

A spokesman for the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paweł Wroński, confirmed that ambassador Sebastian Kęciek “terminated his employment and ceased to be ambassador to Hungary” on July 15. He clarified that “our charge d'affaires remains at that post,” but declined to comment on future developments.

Wroński recalled that in December last year, Poland’s then-Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski summoned the Polish ambassador to Hungary for “indefinite consultations in Warsaw” after Hungary granted asylum to Marcin Romanowski, a member of Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), who faces investigation related to the Justice Fund’s activities during the PiS government. Romanowski is currently subject to a European Arrest Warrant issued by a Warsaw court following a prosecutor’s request.

Responding to the Hungarian statement on July 17, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson insisted that Kęciek’s departure does not signal a permanent decline in bilateral relations, describing it as part of a “normal rotation” in diplomatic posts.

By Sabina Mammadli