Local Councilor Faces Three-Year Prison Term Over “Shrek” Meme of Karol Nawrocki

Radom district councilor Wojciech Ślusarczyk is facing criminal charges after posting a social media graphic comparing the potential presidential couple to the animated characters Shrek and Fiona.

The Investigation Into a Social Media Post

The case concerns a graphic posted by PSL councilor Wojciech Ślusarczyk on Facebook last August. The image depicts First Lady Marta Nawrocka dressed as a queen with the caption, “And where is Shrek?” This refers to the animated film series where the protagonist is an ogre who marries Princess Fiona, who is later revealed to be an ogress.

The post was reported to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Radomsko by a local businessman linked to the OdNowa association. The activist alleged that the image insulted the president and his wife. Following an investigation, prosecutors commissioned an expert witness to determine if the term “Shrek” constitutes a formal insult.

Criminal Charges and Defense Arguments

In June, Wojciech Ślusarczyk was formally charged with two counts: public insult of the President of the Republic of Poland and insult of a private individual. The councilor has pleaded not guilty, stating that if Polish prosecutors have no more serious matters to address, he wishes to congratulate them.

Defense attorney Michał Spólnicki argues that the post was a satirical response to supporters of Karol Nawrocki who had previously shared the image while praising the couple’s appearance. The defense maintains the sarcasm was directed at the original creators of the content rather than the couple themselves.

Legal Precedents for Presidential Insult Cases

Insulting the President of Poland carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. Notably, even if Karol Nawrocki wished to drop the charges, he lacks the formal legal authority to do so.

The case mirrors the 2020 prosecution of writer Jakub Żulczyk, who faced charges after calling President Andrzej Duda a “moron” in a Facebook post regarding U.S. election results. In 2022, the Warsaw Regional Court dismissed the case, ruling that the law permits sharp criticism if it contributes to public debate. The Supreme Court later upheld the acquittal in 2023.