During a live interview on Kanal Zero, Polish President Karol Nawrocki inadvertently dropped a nicotine pouch, sparking amusement in the studio.
President Nawrocki Discusses Current Issues
On Friday, President Nawrocki appeared on Kanal Zero to discuss topics including cryptocurrency legislation and the swearing-in of Constitutional Tribunal judges. He was also questioned about his support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a recent tense exchange with a TVN24 journalist regarding Orbán’s relationship with Putin.
During the interview, a viewer called in with a question about lowering the temperature of public debate. Nawrocki acknowledged the high level of conflict, but before responding, he dropped a snus – a nicotine pouch.
Snus Incident Causes Laughter
As Nawrocki answered the viewer’s question, program host Robert Mazurek bent down and retrieved the dropped snus. The incident prompted laughter from those in the studio, including the President and hosts.
Mazurek reacted, saying, “The man wanted to be kind.” He then jokingly apologized to the caller, who appeared confused by the studio’s reaction. Nawrocki briefly commented, “It happens,” with a smile.
Nawrocki’s History with Snus
This is not the first time President Nawrocki has publicly used snus. A similar incident occurred during a presidential debate on May 23rd of last year, attracting significant attention from commentators and the public.
Nawrocki’s then-campaign chief, Paweł Szefernaker, explained that the snus was used to stay awake during Rafał Trzaskowski’s lengthy statements, inviting critics to undergo health and fitness tests. Nawrocki himself stated he used the nicotine pouch because he “could not listen to the candidate from Civic Coalition.”
Previous Snus Use on Television
Nawrocki also used nicotine pouches during interviews on “Rymanowski Live” on May 6th and 9th, and during a debate on TV Republika. A similar situation likely occurred in September of last year during a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the UN’s founding, where he was seen taking something from a colleague and discreetly placing it in his mouth.
What is Snus?
Snus products are placed under the upper lip, allowing nicotine and other chemicals to be absorbed through the mucous membranes. They deliver high doses of nicotine, leading to rapid addiction.
While the sale of tobacco-containing snus is prohibited in Poland, nicotine pouches without tobacco are legal for adults. Experts warn that these pouches carry similar health risks to traditional tobacco products.