In a TikTok‑shared clip of the Sejm corridor, PiS MP Robert Telus and Vice‑minister Katarzyna Kotula both failed to name the author of Poland’s anthem, prompting the moderator to intervene.
Telus Stumbles on Anthem Question
In a TikTok video posted by user vv_mati (Mateusz Wiktorowicz), a clip from the Sejm corridor showed MP Robert Telus being asked about the author of Poland’s national anthem. After a moment of hesitation he offered the name “Wysocki,” which the TikToker corrected, leading to a series of guesses. The MP finally confessed he was unable to recall the correct name. The moderator finished the answer, indicating that the author is Józef Wybicki.
Kotula Offers Explanation
Vice‑minister Katarzyna Kotula was also asked the same question but could not provide an accurate answer. She recalled only the initials “J.W.” and associated them with “Witwicki” (Piotr Witwicki), the chief editor of Interia. She later explained that her difficulty in recalling the surnames stemmed from memory challenges, noting that people with ADHD often face similar problems.
History of Poland’s Anthem
According to the Institute of National Remembrance in Poznań, Józef Wybicki wrote the anthem inspired by the sight of the Polish Legions during a parade celebrating Reggio’s incorporation into the newly formed Republic of Cisalpina, which rose from the former Republic of Lombardy. The creation of the Legions was proposed to Napoleon by General Józef Dąbrowski, and Poles fought alongside French and Italian forces between 1797 and 1807. The anthem could have appeared between 15 and 21 July 1797, though some researchers claim it originated a few days earlier, on 10 July 1797, based on contemporary witness accounts. The exact date and circumstances of the anthem’s writing and first performance remain disputed among historians.
