Jarosław Kaczyński criticized Peter Magyar, the leader of Hungary’s TISZA party, for repeating false claims and stated he will not congratulate him on the election victory.
Kaczyński Reacts to Hungarian Election Results
Jarosław Kaczyński addressed questions from journalists at the Sejm regarding the changing political situation in Hungary, following the parliamentary election win by the opposition TISZA party. With nearly 99% of votes counted, TISZA secured a significant lead over the Fidesz-KNP coalition led by current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
TISZA is projected to gain 136 seats in the 199-member parliament.
Fate of Ziobro and Romanowski
Kaczyński was questioned about the future of Marcin Romanowski and Zbigniew Ziobro, who have been granted political asylum in Hungary. Both are wanted in Poland in connection with an investigation into irregularities within the Justice Fund.
Kaczyński expressed hope that Romanowski and Ziobro would not return to Poland, stating they would not receive a fair trial in the country.
Accusations Against Peter Magyar
Responding to Peter Magyar’s announcement that he would revoke political asylum granted to PiS politicians, Kaczyński dismissed him, citing his “remarkable exploits in private life” as influencing the decision. He argued that such actions should disqualify anyone from public office.
Kaczyński specifically referenced a widely circulated fake news story from the election period alleging that Magyar microwaved a dog, stating, “In short, he is a man to whom I will in no way offer congratulations. Such people should not be in politics.”
Brejza Files Ethics Complaint
Kaczyński’s repetition of the false claim about Magyar prompted Krzysztof Brejza to file a complaint with the Sejm Ethics Committee, seeking further punishment for Kaczyński’s “absurd lies” regarding Magyar and the alleged microwaving of a puppy.
Origin of the Allegation
Kaczyński based his statement on information purportedly contained in a book by Peter Magyar’s ex-wife, Judit Varga, claiming she wrote that Magyar put a dog in a microwave. The claim initially surfaced on the Hungarian portal Magyar Hirek 24, established just a week before the elections.
Fact-Checking Analysis
The Polish fact-checking portal Demagog analyzed the source of the information, finding no other source confirming the book’s existence. The Hungarian National Széchényi Library’s catalog, which is required to list all published books in Hungary, does not list the book. Fact-checking organizations Sprawdzam AFP, Lead Stories, and Slovak Demagog also found no evidence of the book.
Judit Varga herself told AFP that she had not written any autobiography.
Kaczyński on Nawrocki’s Visit and Orbán’s Future
Kaczyński defended Karol Nawrocki’s visit to Hungary shortly before the elections, stating that Viktor Orbán had been a valuable ally, particularly within the European Union, and that the cooperation was beneficial for Poland.
He also predicted that Orbán would return to politics.
Relations with Russia
Responding to questions about disclosed conversations between the Hungarian Foreign Minister and the Kremlin, Kaczyński recalled his first, lengthy meeting with Viktor Orbán in 2016. He stated that they had clearly discussed their differences, and that Orbán had been candid about his views, so his subsequent actions were not surprising.
