The Responsibilities of the President of the Republic of Poland towards the Armed Forces during the Work on the Constitution in 1919-1921

Abstract

After more than one hundred years of the lack of independence, Poland had to tackle the problem of determining the President’s systemic position in relation to the Armed Forces. At that time, parliamentary debate focused on whether the President’s and Commander-in-Chief’s authority could be exercised by the same person. Left-wing politicians argued in favour of performing the authority and supreme command in the state of war by the President. Finally, the concept of the right and centre-right wing prevailed. It awarded the president the supreme authority over the Armed Forces without a possibility of performing command of the army in the state of war. The whole legislative process showed immaturity of the parliamentary debate at that time.