The acting head of state has announced consultations with all party leaders prior to the launch of the National Security Council, late afternoon Monday.

Bronislaw Komorowski reiterated the intention he had signalled already last week, saying “more than a month ago I had announced a week of national mourning. Today, it seems the mood of that period is slowly passing, being replaced by a return to normal life, including political activity. Therefore, on the basis of Article 135 of the Constitution I’m calling into force the National Security Council.”

Komorowski told journalists at a conference that he would like the body to reflect on the tragedy at Smolensk on 10 April, as well as discuss preventive measures for the future with an eye to their practical implementation.

Another area to be reviewed and evaluated by the National Security Council is foreign policy, especially Polish-Russian relations which have taken on a new quality following the presidential plane crash at Smolensk.

Customarily, the Council is an advisory body to the president made up of personally appointed representatives of various fields of public life. As acting head of state in the period up to the election of a new president, Bronislaw Komorowski has invited the PM and his deputy, the speakers of the Sejm and Senate, leaders of all parties represented in Parliament as well as former presidents and several heads of government to sit on the Council.

The presidential elections in Poland are scheduled for 20 June with a possible second round on 4 July. (ss/jb)

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