Tomasz Nalecz. photo - east news

Poland’s new centre right president Bronislaw Komorowski is casting his net wide as he recruits political advisors from across the political spectrum - even former communist party members.

It was announced on Monday that left winger and former communist Tomasz Nalecz is to become the new presidential advisor on history and national heritage.

“It’s an honour for me,” commented Nalecz. He added that the decision has yet to be formally confirmed by the Chancellery of the President.

Tomasz Nalecz is a former member of the PZPR communist party (1970-1990)  - during which time Komorowski was a Solidarity activist - and deputy Speaker of the lower house of parliament, the Sejm. He came to prominence in the media when in 2003-2004 he headed the parliamentary committee on the Rywingate scandal.

During presidential elections in 2005 Nalecz was the head of social democrat Marek Borowski’s electoral staff. Nalecz wanted to run for president in the 2010 elections but withdrew after the Smolensk plane crash and supported Bronislaw Komorowski in the second round on July 4. (pg/mg)