Following a tense exchange with a TVN24 reporter during Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day events, the Head of the President’s Chancellery defended Karol Nawrocki’s reaction.
Polish-Hungarian Meetings and the Incident
On March 23rd, Karol Nawrocki met with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok during Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day celebrations in Przemyśl. He subsequently traveled to Budapest for discussions with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The Journalist’s Question
During a joint appearance by Nawrocki and Sulyok, TVN24 journalist Mateusz Półchłopek questioned the Polish President: “Mr. President, are you not bothered by Viktor Orbán’s friendliness with Vladimir Putin?”
Nawrocki’s Response
Nawrocki responded sharply, questioning whether the journalist had listened to the press conference and his statements regarding Vladimir Putin. He stated, “Vladimir Putin is a war criminal. Do you understand, editor? Goodbye.” He accused the journalist of attempting to portray him as being pursued by Putin.
Chancellery Chief Defends Nawrocki
Zbigniew Bogucki, Head of the President’s Chancellery, described Nawrocki’s reaction as “very healthy, rational, and wise.” He characterized it as a response to “attempted brazen manipulation.”
Criticism of the Journalist
Bogucki further stated that Półchłopek behaved “unworthily” towards the head of state, suggesting the reporter staged a setup to create a narrative of Nawrocki avoiding the question. He labeled Półchłopek a “quarter-journalist.”
Journalist’s Reaction
Mateusz Półchłopek stated on X (formerly Twitter) that in his years of journalism, he had never encountered such an emotional reaction to a question, especially one directed at the President. He emphasized that asking questions is the core function of journalism.
Nawrocki’s Remarks in Przemyśl
During his joint appearance with the Hungarian President, Nawrocki stated that Poles love Hungarians and hate Vladimir Putin, whom he described as a war criminal. He affirmed the enduring Polish-Hungarian friendship while acknowledging areas of disagreement. He added that Putin and Russia pose an existential threat to Poland, comparable to the Bolsheviks in 1920.