Poland's foreign minister quits amid Belarus crisis
Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz has resigned, '' the ministry said on Thursday, the 2nd ministerial resignation in a week since Poland tries to play a major role in the EU response to a political crisis in neighboring in Belarus.
Czaputowicz had signaled in July he could quit, as the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party declared it plans some personnel changes in the authorities during a reshuffle at the fall that could see the number of ministries decreased.
His exit comes at an important time for Polish foreign policy, since Warsaw has sought to push the EU to take an active diplomatic position involving Belarus, a near Russian ally whose borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are important NATO frontiers.
Countless people have demonstrated in Belarus against official election results that showed President Alexander Lukashenko re-elected within an Aug. 9 vote the opposition says was rigged. The EU has announced financial sanctions against Belarusian officials it blames for vote fraud.
Belarus has blamed the protests on international interference and stated it's reinforcing its Western borders.
The resignation of Poland's foreign ministry comes two days after the departure of Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski, who left amid increasing daily coronavirus disease prices.
Czaputowicz had signaled in July he could quit, as the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party declared it plans some personnel changes in the authorities during a reshuffle at the fall that could see the number of ministries decreased.
His exit comes at an important time for Polish foreign policy, since Warsaw has sought to push the EU to take an active diplomatic position involving Belarus, a near Russian ally whose borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are important NATO frontiers.
Countless people have demonstrated in Belarus against official election results that showed President Alexander Lukashenko re-elected within an Aug. 9 vote the opposition says was rigged. The EU has announced financial sanctions against Belarusian officials it blames for vote fraud.
Belarus has blamed the protests on international interference and stated it's reinforcing its Western borders.
The resignation of Poland's foreign ministry comes two days after the departure of Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski, who left amid increasing daily coronavirus disease prices.
