President Karol Nawrocki sharply rebuked a TVN journalist during a joint press conference in Przemyśl, Poland, regarding Viktor Orbán’s relationship with Vladimir Putin.
Controversy at Press Conference in Przemyśl
President Karol Nawrocki addressed a TVN journalist who questioned the close relationship between Viktor Orbán and Vladimir Putin, stating: “Please calm down and listen.” Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on the situation, adding: “You shouldn’t shout at journalists – they didn’t get you into this Russian mire.”
Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day
On Monday, President Nawrocki, along with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok, participated in the celebrations of Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day in Przemyśl, Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Later in the day, discussions moved to Budapest, where Nawrocki was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Orbán.
Nawrocki’s Response to Journalist’s Question
During the joint press conference in Przemyśl, Nawrocki stated that the mission of both presidents was to ensure that Polish-Hungarian friendship “does not become an object of short-term political tremors.”
After delivering statements, as the presidents were leaving the stage, a TVN journalist asked President Nawrocki if he was bothered by Orbán’s closeness to Vladimir Putin. The president returned to the stage and asked the journalist if he had been listening to the conference and what he had said about Putin.
“The reporter needs to get a grip and listen to what the President of Poland says. I’m talking to you, reporter. Vladimir Putin is a criminal, do you understand, reporter? Goodbye,” he added, waving his finger at the journalist.
Prime Minister Tusk’s Reaction
Prime Minister Tusk commented on the situation in the afternoon on the X platform. “Please don’t shout at journalists, President Nawrocki. They didn’t get you into this Russian swamp,” the head of government wrote.
Presidential Spokesperson’s Response
Presidential spokesperson Rafał Leśkiewicz responded to Tusk’s post. He shared Nawrocki’s Monday statement on the X platform, in which the president emphasized that “there are matters on which we agree to disagree; Poles love Hungarians – they hate Vladimir Putin.” Leśkiewicz added that he was sharing Nawrocki’s words “with a special dedication to Prime Minister Tusk.” He further stated, “It was your government that left the remains of the victims of April 10, 2010, in the Russian swamp.” (PAP)
