Priorities of the new cabinet member
Upon assuming his role as spokesperson for Donald Tusk’s government, Adam Szłapka outlined five key priorities to establish a new standard in government communication.
His top priority is transparency and accessibility—he pledged to be open to media questions at any time, day or night. Szłapka plans regular briefings and the use of modern channels to engage with citizens.
Another goal is the effective presentation of government achievements, such as the implementation of the National Recovery Plan, infrastructure investments, and new social programs.
A third pillar is a proactive fight against disinformation—Szłapka announced the creation of a rapid-response media team and the launch of fact-checking tools.
Equally important is the professionalization of communication, both within the government and externally, with an emphasis on modern formats and better coordination of messaging.
The final, but no less important task, is to rebuild public trust in state institutions through honest, transparent, and understandable government language.
Reactions from the Parliament
Members of the ruling coalition welcomed the prime minister’s decision. Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, an MP from the Civic Coalition, praised her party colleague, calling him a modern, media-savvy politician who isn’t afraid of tough questions.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister from the Polish People’s Party, said he believes Szłapka and his team will be able to translate government decisions into everyday language.
Adrian Zandberg, leader of the Left Together party, responded more cautiously, stating that he will be watching closely to see whether Szłapka acts as a spokesperson for the people or merely for Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The opposition, particularly Law and Justice (PiS), reacted to the announcement with marked skepticism. MEP Beata Szydło dismissed the change as a classic example of party seat rotation, saying the outgoing minister is being given a post just to gloss over the government’s failures.
MP Radosław Fogiel was also critical, arguing that the Nowoczesna politician will conceal, rather than communicate, issues important to the Polish people. He suspects the spokesperson will act more as a political PR manager.
Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak, from the far-right Confederation party, believes the government is focusing on media politics instead of real reforms. He claims the new spokesperson will protect the narrative, not the interests of citizens.
Is this really a good choice?
Although Adam Szłapka promises a fresh start in the government’s media policy, many experts have expressed mixed feelings about his appointment.
Professor Dorota Piontek from Adam Mickiewicz University told TVN24 that Szłapka’s strong party affiliation may undermine the credibility of the government’s messaging. In her view, someone outside of day-to-day politics would inspire more public trust. She also emphasized the importance of a professional press office to support him—saying he may not manage the role effectively on his own. The professor also noted the growing importance of social media presence for effective communication with citizens.
Another potential candidate was Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, known for his charismatic media appearances. Though close to the Prime Minister, he has so far remained outside the Cabinet. His distance from government work could have been an advantage—while Szłapka has been a serving minister until now.
Commentators have also pointed out that someone with significant journalistic experience could be equally effective in the spokesperson role. In this context, names such as Paweł Wroński were mentioned, although he chose to remain in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As Minister for European Union Affairs, Szłapka rarely communicated the successes of Poland’s EU Council Presidency. As a result, many Poles are unaware of these achievements—despite a number of notable successes, especially in strengthening alliances along the EU’s eastern border in this difficult, wartime period.
There remains hope that Adam Szłapka has learned from past shortcomings and will face this much bigger challenge with renewed energy.