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Ministry of the Interior and Administration of The Republic of Poland
Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji
Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji logo 2022.png
Ministerial logotype
Med5 DSC0183.JPG
The seat of the ministry on Stefan Batory Street, Warsaw
Agency overview
Headquarters ul. Stefana Batorego 5, Warsaw
52°12′40″N 21°01′00″E / 52.21111°N 21.01667°E / 52.21111; 21.01667
Agency executive
  • Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of the Interior and Administration
Parent agency Council of Ministers
Website gov.pl/mswia

The Ministry of the Interior and Administration (in Polish: Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji), often called MSWiA, is a very important part of the Polish government. It helps control the main parts of Poland's administration and security. Think of it as a central office that keeps the country safe and organized.

After the Parliamentary Election in 2011, the ministry was split into two separate ministries. But it was brought back together in late 2015.

What the Ministry Does

History of the Ministry

The ministry first started in 1918. Back then, it was called the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 1996, a big change happened in the Polish government. The part that handled general administration joined with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This is when it got its current name, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.

This ministry has always been one of the most important jobs in the Polish government. Its main office is in Warsaw, on Stefan Batory Street.

Keeping Poland Safe

The ministry has many important jobs to keep Poland safe and running smoothly. Here are some of its main responsibilities:

  • National Security: It makes sure the country is safe from crimes or big natural disasters like floods.
    • This includes overseeing the main law enforcement groups in Poland.
      • The Polish National Police (Policja) helps keep peace and catch criminals.
      • The Polish Border Guard (Straż Graniczna) protects Poland's borders.
    • It also handles Civil defence, which means preparing for and responding to emergencies.
      • The State Fire Brigade (Straż Pożarna) fights fires and helps in emergencies.
      • It oversees search and rescue teams and ambulance services.

Helping People and Local Areas

The ministry also helps with many everyday things for people and local governments:

  • Documents: It helps people get important identity documents. These include Polish passports and identity cards, as well as driving licenses. These are given out through local offices called voivodeships.
  • Local Government: It works with local governments across the country. This helps make sure everything runs well between the central government and local towns and regions.
  • Elections: The ministry helps organize national and local elections. This ensures that voting happens smoothly. However, the final results of elections are checked by the Supreme Court of Poland.
  • Immigration: It manages who can enter and live in Poland. This includes preventing people from entering illegally. It also helps with the process of legal immigrants settling in Poland.

It's important to know that while the ministry supervises the police, it does not handle criminal investigations. Those investigations are managed by the judiciary, which is the system of courts and judges.

Ministers of the Interior and Administration

The person in charge of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration is called the Minister. This person is a key member of the government.

The current Minister of the Interior and Administration is Tomasz Siemoniak. He took on this role in May 2024.

Images for kids

  • Stanisław Thugutt1

    Stanisław Thugutt, Minister of Internal Affairs (1918-1919)

  • Stanisław Wojciechowski. Fotografia portretowa.

    Stanisław Wojciechowski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1919-1920)

  • Józef Kuczyński

    Józef Kuczyński, Chief executive (1920)

  • L Skulski (cropped)

    Leopold Skulski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1920-1921)

  • Władysław Raczkiewicz 1930

    Władysław Raczkiewicz, Minister of Internal Affairs (1921)

  • Stanisław Downarowicz

    Stanisław Downarowicz, Minister of Internal Affairs (1921-1922)

  • Antoni Kamieński

    Antoni Kamieński, Minister of Internal Affairs (1922)

  • L.Darowski

    Ludwik Darowski, Chief executive (1922)

  • Sikorski prime minister

    Władysław Sikorski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1922-1923)

  • Kiernik 1930

    Władysław Kiernik, Minister of Internal Affairs (1923)

  • Władysław Sołtan

    Władysław Sołtan, Minister of Internal Affairs (1923-1924)

  • Zygmunt Hübner portrait (cropped)

    Zygmunt Hübner, Minister of Internal Affairs (1924)

  • Cyryl Ratajski

    Cyryl Ratajski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1924-1925)

  • Smólski (cropped)

    Stefan Smólski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1926)

  • Kazimierz Młodzianowski (cropped)

    Kazimierz Młodzianowski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1926)

  • FSSkladkowski (HistoriaPolski str.247)

    Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1926-1929, 1930-1931, 1936-1939)

  • Henryk Józewski (cropped)

    Henryk Józewski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1929-1930)

  • Pieracki Kalendarz

    Bronisław Pieracki, Minister of Internal Affairs (1931-1934)

  • Leon Kozłowski (prime minister) (1) (cropped)

    Leon Kozłowski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1934)

  • Zyndram Koscialkowski

    Marian Zyndram-Kościałkowski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1934-1935)

  • Stanisław Radkiewicz (cropped)

    Stanisław Radkiewicz, Minister of Public Security (1944-1954)

  • Mieczysław Moczar

    Mieczysław Moczar, Minister of Internal Affairs (1964-1968)

  • Kazimierz Świtała

    Kazimierz Świtała, Minister of Internal Affairs (1968-1971)

  • Franciszek Szlachcic

    Franciszek Szlachcic, Minister of Internal Affairs (1971)

  • Stanisław Kowalczyk

    Stanisław Kowalczyk, Minister of Internal Affairs (1973-1980)

  • Miroslaw Milewski PZPR

    Mirosław Milewski, Minister of Internal Affairs (1980-1981)

  • Czeslaw Kiszczak

    Czesław Kiszczak, Minister of Internal Affairs (1981-1990)

  • 2008.06.22. Krzysztof Kozlowski Fot Mariusz Kubik 02

    Krzysztof Kozłowski, Minister of Interior (1990-1991)

  • Antoni Macierewicz Sejm 2014

    Antoni Macierewicz, Minister of Interior (1991-1992)

  • Leszek Miller Sejm 2015 02

    Leszek Miller, Minister of Interior and Administration (1997)

  • Marek Biernacki 2015

    Marek Biernacki, Minister of Interior and Administration (1999-2001)

  • Krzysztof Janik 2013 (cropped)

    Krzysztof Janik, Minister of Interior and Administration (2001-2004)

  • Józef Oleksy 2004

    Józef Oleksy, Minister of Interior and Administration (2004)

  • Jerzy Szmajdzinski

    Jerzy Szmajdziński, Acting Minister of Interior and Administration (2004)

  • Ryszard Kalisz 2013 (cropped)

    Ryszard Kalisz, Minister of Interior and Administration (2004-2005)

  • Ludwik Dorn Sejm 2014(cropped)

    Ludwik Dorn, Minister of Interior and Administration (2005-2007)

  • Janusz Kaczmarek 03

    Janusz Kaczmarek, Minister of Interior and Administration (2007)

  • Władysław Stasiak (cropped)

    Władysław Stasiak, Minister of Interior and Administration (2007)

  • Grzegorz Schetyna Sejm 2019

    Grzegorz Schetyna, Minister of Interior and Administration (2007-2009)

  • Jerzy Miller - wojewoda

    Jerzy Miller, Minister of Interior and Administration (2009-2011)

  • Przedstawienie kandydatów na ministrów w rządzie Ewy Kopacz (15104035247) (cropped)

    Jacek Cichocki, Minister of Interior (2011-2013)

  • Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz 2013 (cropped)

    Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, Minister of Interior (2013-2014)

  • Teresa Piotrowska

    Teresa Piotrowska, Minister of Interior (2014-2015)

  • Mariusz Błaszczak portret

    Mariusz Błaszczak, Minister of Interior and Administration (2015-2018)

  • Joachim Brudziński 2018 (cropped)

    Joachim Brudziński, Minister of Interior and Administration (2018-2019)

  • Elżbieta Witek

    Elżbieta Witek, Minister of Interior and Administration (2019)

  • Mariusz Kamiński (50064216943) (cropped)

    Mariusz Kamiński, Minister of Interior and Administration (2019-2023)

  • Paweł Szefernaker 2018 (cropped)

    Paweł Szefernaker, Minister of Interior and Administration (2023)

  • Marcin Kierwiński KPRM 2

    Marcin Kierwiński, Minister of Interior and Administration (2023-2024)

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