Foreign allies

President Lech Kaczyński appointed Anna Fotyga as the new Foreign Minister, making her the first woman in Polish history in charge of foreign policy. Minster Fotyga replaced veteran diplomat Stefan Meller, who quit after Self-defense and the League of Polish Families (LPR) joined the government. Until now, the new Minister has been Meller's deputy responsible for consular affairs and contacts with the Polish diaspora. "Mrs Fotyga was the best candidate for this post," Kaczyński said.

Warsaw's foreign partners are concerned that populist and radical parties, which have recently joined the government, could divert Poland from its pro-European course. Opposition parties claim that Fotyga's appointment may fail to dispel doubts in the international community over the new coalition government's future foreign policy.

"Poles need assurances that the country's position will not be at risk," Civic Platform (PO) leader Donald Tusk told Reuters. Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) leader Wojciech Olejniczak labelled Fotyga as the least competent Foreign Minister since 1989.

Tusk also added that this appointment means moving the creation of foreign policy from the Foreign Ministry to the Presidential Palace.

Minsiter Fotyga, a former European Parliament deputy, is considered a close and loyal associate of Lech Kaczyński, whom she has known since working with him in the Solidarity movement.