During the Friday presidential debate on Polish Television, there was a sharp exchange of views between Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki. The reason for the conflict were controversial statements by Grzegorz Braun, who had previously accused Nawrocki's surroundings of proposing a pardon in exchange for supporting the second circular of elections.
A dispute over alleged promises of pardon
Grzegorz Braun, who finished 4th in the presidential election, stated that the people associated with Karol Nawrocki were to offer him the chance to pardon in the event of his support for the candidacy. However, these allegations were definitely denied by Nawrocki's staff.
“Someone has misled someone. no of the staff and surroundings of Karol Nawrocki promised anyone any pardon. This is perfidious provocation” – wrote Paweł Chief of Staff of Nawrocki on platform X.
Prosecutor's Office Against Braun
Braun's case is all the more controversial, as the territory Attorney's Office in Warsaw obtained approval to hold him liable for 7 crimes. Justice Minister Adam Bodnar pointed out that:
- two concern a violation of physical immunity and an insult to a doctor – manager of the National Centre of Cardiology,
- three concern various acts of the Chuligans,
- two mention to Braun's conduct in the Sejm – the public insult of the subject of "religious honour" and the violation of the physical integrity of the intervener.
Pursuant to Article 196 of the Criminal Code, criminal liability for insulting the subject of spiritual worship or the place intended for the public performance of spiritual rites may be imposed only if the act concerns a church or another spiritual union with a regulated legal situation in Poland.
By judgement of 5 March 2015 (Event No III K 274/14), The ultimate Court stressed that the offence of Art. 196 k.k. can only be committed by intentional fault, and the insult must be of a public character and concern the subject of spiritual worship or a place of spiritual worship.
The Chabad-Lubacz Sect, which does not have a regulated legal position in Poland as a spiritual union, does not meet the conditions for protection provided for in Article 196 k.k.
Consequently, the actions of Mr Grzegorz Braun, consisting of the extinguishing of Khanuk candles in the Sejm, cannot be qualified as a crime of insulting a spiritual object within the meaning of Art. 196 k., due to the deficiency of formal legal position of the Chabad-Lubacz sect in Poland.
With respect to the second part of the complaint, we propose that you read the video below and measure for yourself who actually violated physical integrity among the participants of the event — the material clearly shows that she was a doctor to the MP.
"This is not presidential level" – Nawrocki ripost
During the debate, Trzaskowski asked Nawrocki about Braun's words, suggesting that his staff might have led unethical negotiations. The PiS candidate replied harshly:
“If we are to talk about rumors that individual from my staff, individual from my envoy, promised something, this is not presidential level. I have no information that Mr. Grzegorz Braun is convicted. It is only in the Citizen's Platform environment that 1 can ask about those who have not been convicted of being pardoned by the President."
Nawrocki besides stressed that Braun's voters deserve respect:
"I would point out how you may not mention to Grzegorz Braun himself, who was a legal candidate for president, but to more than 1 million electors of Grzegorz Braun who took part in democratic elections. You talk so much about the community, for everyone there is simply a place under the white-red flag, and you start treating voters Grzegorz Braun as a abroad component of Polish democracy and the Polish national community.”
Trzaskowski: “You gotta respond to utmost attitudes”
In response, Trzaskowski referred to erstwhile controversy related to Braun, recalling his anti-Semitic and proputin statements:
"If individual at the presidential debate starts repeating anti-Semitic slogans and attacks insurgents who fought with Germany, if we have people giving proputin texts, if we have specified situations, we must react."
The dispute between Trzaskowski and Nawrock shows how much the figure of Grzegorz Braun divides the Polish political scene. His statements and allegations against Nawrocki's staff became another hot place in the election campaign.
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Trzaskowski vs. Nawrocki: A sharp dispute over Grzegorz Braun during the TVP debate
