Polish President orders EU flag removed from office

Warsaw,-A quiet but symbolic change inside the Presidential Chancellery has sparked political debate in Poland.

President Karol Nawrocki has reportedly ordered the European Union flag to be removed from his office, with other senior officials following suit.

According to Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, the directive was not formally announced, but sources close to the administration suggest it was widely understood as an intentional move. Paweł Szefernaker, head of the President’s Office, is also said to have removed the EU flag from his own workspace.

Despite the decision inside the building, the EU flag continues to fly outside the Presidential Palace alongside the Polish and NATO flags, in line with official protocol.

Mixed Signals

Presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz downplayed concerns, stressing that the EU flag remains displayed within the chancellery and was clearly visible during Nawrocki’s recent public appearances.

However, commentators see the gesture differently. Critics argue that the absence of the flag inside the president’s office could signal a deliberate political message. Columnist Wojciech Maziarski wrote that the removal may be intended to downplay Poland’s EU ties while maintaining a public appearance of compliance.

Not the First Time

Poland has seen similar controversies before. In 2015, then–Prime Minister Beata Szydło removed EU flags from press conferences and replaced a government meeting room clock with a crucifix. Elsewhere in Europe, Hungary’s parliament also removed EU flags in 2014 during a wave of nationalist politics.

What’s Next?

The move has raised questions about whether other state institutions will follow the president’s lead, and how European partners may interpret the gesture. With Poland’s role in the EU often under scrutiny, the removal of a simple flag could mark the beginning of a deeper political shift.