Poland's president to reappoint army chief for another three-year term

Poland's President Karol Nawrocki has decided to reappoint General Wiesław Kukuła as head of the country's armed forces staff for another three years.

General Wiesław Kukuła, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, pictured in October.

Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada

Bartosz Grodecki, head of the presidential National Security Bureau (BBN), said on Tuesday that Gen. Kukuła's new term as Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces will begin on 10 October.

He will receive his formal appointment on 11 November, during Poland's Independence Day celebrations.

Grodecki also wished Gen. Kukuła continued success as the "First Soldier of the Republic."

Prezydent RP, Zwierzchnik Sił Zbrojnych @NawrockiKn, postanowił z dniem 10 października 2026 r. mianować generała @wieslawkukula na stanowisko Szefa @SztabGenWP na kolejną kadencję. Akt mianowania zostanie wręczony 11 listopada 2026 r. podczas uroczystych obchodów Narodowego Święta Niepodległości. Gratuluję Panu Generałowi i życzę dalszych sukcesów w pełnieniu funkcji Pierwszego Żołnierza Rzeczypospolitej!

— Bartosz Grodecki (@BartoszGrodecki) October 6, 2026

Under Poland's Homeland Defence Act, the chief of the General Staff serves a three-year term, which can be renewed.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said last week that he was very pleased with his cooperation with Gen. Kukuła.

Kukuła, 54, has served in the military for more than 30 years.

Born in Częstochowa, southern Poland, he is a former commando who served in Iraq in 2003-04 and later led the Territorial Defence Forces.

He was promoted to general by then-President Andrzej Duda in 2016 and is now one of two four-star generals in Poland's army.

Gen. Kukuła has the backing of both the government and the president, who defended him in May after criticism from Sławomir Mentzen, leader of the far-right Confederation party.

(ał)

Source: PAP