During a visit to Hungary, Polish President Karol Nawrocki sharply rebuked a TVN24 reporter for questioning his views on Viktor Orbán’s relationship with Vladimir Putin.
Meeting with Hungarian Leaders
Karol Nawrocki met with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok in Przemyśl on March 23rd during the Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day celebrations. He also held discussions with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest the same day.
Confrontation with TVN24 Reporter
Following a joint appearance by Nawrocki and Sulyok, TVN24 reporter Mateusz Półchłopek questioned the Polish President about Orbán’s close ties to Vladimir Putin. Półchłopek asked, “Mr. President, does Viktor Orbán’s closeness to Vladimir Putin not bother you?”
Nawrocki’s Response
Karol Nawrocki responded defensively, questioning the reporter’s attentiveness and accusing him of previously alleging a connection between himself and Putin. He stated, “Vladimir Putin is a criminal. Do you understand, editor?” before ending the exchange.
Statement from the Polish Media Council
The Polish Media Council stated that it is a journalist’s fundamental duty to gather information and share it with the public, and that asking questions at press conferences is a key part of that process. The council affirmed their support for Mateusz Półchłopek.
The council criticized the President’s aggressive response, stating that it was unbecoming of the office and did not reflect well on his staff. They appealed to the President and his team to respect the role of journalists in a democratic system.
Statement from the Journalist Association
The Journalist Association also released a statement, expressing dismay at President Nawrocki’s behavior towards the TVN24 reporter. They considered his scolding of the journalist for seeking clarification on his meeting with the Hungarian Prime Minister, who openly sympathizes with Vladimir Putin, to be inappropriate.
The association emphasized that politicians should listen to and answer journalists’ questions without aggression or attacks, as journalists represent the public’s right to information. They also criticized the President’s Chief of Staff, Zbigniew Bogucki, for defending Nawrocki’s actions.
Defense from the President’s Chief of Staff
Zbigniew Bogucki defended Nawrocki’s reaction as “healthy, rational, and wise,” characterizing it as a response to what he described as “shameless manipulation.” He further stated that the reporter behaved more like a “quarter-journalist.”
