In brief

• President Karol Nawrocki criticized Finance Minister Andrzej Domański during Independence Day celebrations in Warsaw.
• He referred to his wife's service in the Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa while handing out promotions.
• Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz defended Domański, and Domański responded that such moments should unite Poles.

Presidential criticism during the celebrations

Speaking at plac Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego in Warsaw, where the central events marking the 108th anniversary of Poland's regained independence took place, President Karol Nawrocki turned to Finance Minister Andrzej Domański. While handing out promotions to Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa officers, he mentioned that his wife had served in that formation (Nawrocki wbił szpilę Domańskiemu. Przywołał przy tym żonę – Wirtualna Polska). He then said the officers' hard work had nothing to do with what he called a poor state of public finances and with Domański's work (Prezydent Nawrocki zwrócił się do Domańskiego. "Proszę o lepszą pracę dla Rzeczypospolitej" – msn.com).

Nawrocki also asked the minister for better work on behalf of the Republic of Poland (Prezydent krytykował ministra finansów. Szef MON odpowiedział. "Nie taki ten Domański straszny" – msn.com). The remarks were made during the ceremony, where he was handing out general's nominations.

Defence minister defends Domański

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz came to Domański's defence. He pointed to the record defence budget and to military agreements with the United States as evidence of the government's results (Szef MON odpowiada Nawrockiemu. "Nie taki ten Domański straszny" – Wirtualna Polska). He said the minister was "not that scary" and thanked him for his work (Kosiniak-Kamysz dziękuje Domańskiemu i odpowiada na krytykę prezydenta – Money.pl) (Prezydent uderzył w ministra. Kosiniak-Kamysz skomentował to krótko – Interia Biznes).

Domański's reply

Domański answered on social media, writing that moments like this should unite Poles rather than divide them, and published a photograph with the message (Domański odpowiedział Nawrockiemu. "Takie momenty powinny łączyć" – Wirtualna Polska) (Domański odpowiada na krytykę Nawrockiego. "Powinniśmy się łączyć – Money.pl).

Context

The exchange came on a public holiday, during official ceremonies that normally bring together state representatives. The clash between the head of state and the finance minister over public finances is the latest sign of tension between the presidency and the government.