Prime Minister Tusk replaced the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski, who came from the farmer-friendly conservative faction of the coalition. His successor is Stefan Krajewski, an agricultural engineer with an academic background. This change symbolizes a shift towards a more technocratic approach to agricultural policy, with Tusk also seeking to appeal more to urban and moderate voters.
Czesław Siekierski had long been the target of criticism, among other things because of his age. His policies were considered outdated, and he was accused of failing to connect sufficiently with both the modern agricultural sector and young farmers. Observers therefore saw his departure as inevitable.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Michał Kołodziejczak also recently left the cabinet. He is the founder of the farmers' action group Agrounia, which was incorporated into the coalition by Tusk in 2023. His departure came shortly after fierce disagreements within the ministry and tensions over the direction of Polish agricultural policy. His position was seen internally as increasingly untenable.
Besides changes within the Ministry of Agriculture, other ministries were reorganized as well. Tusk decided, among other things, to merge the Ministry of Sport with the Ministry of Tourism. With this, he aims to promote efficiency and better align policy lines. These measures form part of a broader administrative restructuring.
More faces disappeared from the government. Not only Siekierski and Kołodziejczak, but also Minister Leszczyna of Health and Minister Paszyk of Development had to leave. Their resignations mark Tusk’s willingness to make a clean break beyond the agricultural portfolio. In choosing their successors, he opted for candidates with administrative experience and less outspoken party affiliations.
The reshuffle was presented by Tusk as a necessary step to increase the government's efficiency. According to the prime minister, it is important that the cabinet follows a clear line and that internal division no longer paralyzes government work. He emphasized that cooperation within the coalition remains important, but decisiveness now takes priority. By appointing more technocratic figures, Tusk hopes to temper that discontent.