Poland’s Kaczynski leaves vice-PM’s post

Poland’s conservative ruling party chair Jaroslaw Kaczynski, says he has quit as a deputy prime minister in the government in order to focus on the party and upcoming elections. 

Kaczynski told the state news agency PAP that he had planned the move earlier but it was delayed by Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine.

He suggested he was being succeeded in his role by Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak.

“This is a completely natural decision,” Kaczynski said, according to PAP. “We have a war and he is the defense minister, so in the particular situation in which we are, such a connection has very big advantages.”

Kaczynski is known as the most important politician in Poland, guiding government decisions and hand-picking those who serve in top positions, including Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Back in 2015 he also tapped a presidential candidate who won and at this time is in his second term, Andrzej Duda.