Security chief's resignation due to conflict with prime minister?

General Krzysztof Bondaryk: photo - PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, an MP on the parliamentary committee for special services, has suggested that there were “differences of opinion” between Bondaryk and Tusk regarding prospective reforms of the agency.

Speaking this morning in an interview with Polish Radio, Bielecki noted that “the prime minister has been talking for months about remodelling the [special] services, and I think that this is one of the factors.

“We need to wait before making further comments until we know details,” he said.

In August last year, Tusk signalled his aim to overhaul the ABW, following the fall-out over the collapse of lender and investment firm Amber Gold.

Tusk indicated that reforms were needed so that ABW “does not compete with other police services.”

The prime minister argued that ABW's activities overlapped too much with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBA), and that only the latter should focus on economic crimes.

“In the case of ABW, we would like it to be focused on activities concerning terrorist threats, extremism and protecting classified information,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tusk has issued a statement thanking Bondaryk for his five years as the head of the agency, noting that its successes “were due to the extensive work and personal commitment of its chief.”

For the time being, Bondaryk's post will be occupied by his deputy chief, Dariusz Luczak. (nh)