Nawrocki calls Giertych an internet troll and rejects his threat over court oaths
Poland's President Karol Nawrocki called Roman Giertych an internet troll on Thursday, 15 October, after the Civic Coalition MP suggested he could be deemed unfit to hold presidential office. Giertych answered on X, telling the president not to insult lawyers.
Threat and reply
On Tuesday, 13 October, Roman Giertych, a Civic Coalition (Koalicja Obywatelska) MP and deputy head of its parliamentary club, urged President Karol Nawrocki to accept oaths from Constitutional Tribunal judges elected by the Sejm. In a post, he warned that if the president did not act, he would be deemed unable to perform presidential duties. He also invoked Donald Trump, suggesting that after the November elections in the United States, Trump would no longer be able to give Nawrocki the backing he received in 2025.
Mr Nawrocki, either you get to work or we will conclude that you are not capable of performing presidential duties.
Nawrocki's response
On Thursday, 15 October, Joanna Miziołek asked the president, in an interview with Polsat News and Interia, whether he saw Giertych's post as a threat. Nawrocki said that responding to Giertych's words was, for him, a matter of dishonour. He added that had someone else said the same thing, he would probably have commented. He then called Giertych an internet troll and said that, as Poland's president, he should not comment on him.
First of all, I consider it a dishonour to have to respond to the words of Mr Roman Giertych.
A dispute that predates the tribunal row
The exchange follows an earlier clash. In September, after Giertych suggested cutting the presidential chancellery budget following the president's meeting with young people in Jurata, Nawrocki said he did not take the politician seriously. He also said Giertych could threaten his online followers with payouts or withholdings, and that he did not feel like talking to him at all. The current row was renewed by the situation around the Constitutional Tribunal and the oath of Maciej Berk, which the president decided not to accept. Nawrocki's refusal to engage has now been repeated in an interview on a second occasion within weeks.
- Nawrocki says he does not take Giertych seriously after a budget proposal
- Giertych urges Nawrocki to accept Constitutional Tribunal oaths and warns of unfitness
- Nawrocki calls Giertych an internet troll in Polsat News and Interia interview
Giertych's rebuttal
Giertych answered on X, asking the president why he reacted with nerves, insults and arrogance. He advised Nawrocki against insulting lawyers, since he may need them many more times in the future. The advice came in the same post that questioned the president's conduct.
In your place, I would not insult a single lawyer. You will need so many of them in your life that there is no point in puffing yourself up.
On Thursday, 15 October, Giertych again criticised the president, arguing that he lives in the Namiestnikowski Palace because he is Trump's 'viceroy'.
