“This kind of language is unacceptable. One cannot speak about fellow citizens in such terms,” commented Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Piotr Zgorzelski during an appearance on TV Republika, responding to remarks made by Donald Tusk about residents of eastern Greater Poland and Radom.
On Saturday, TV Republika released the so-called “Tusk tapes”—recordings that may send shockwaves through the political scene. The published excerpt features a conversation between Roman Giertych and Donald Tusk, recorded in 2019.
The discussion covered, among other topics, a conflict between Giertych and then Civic Platform leader Grzegorz Schetyna, the collection of signatures in support of Stanisław Gawłowski, and strategic decisions regarding Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska’s presidential candidacy. The recording also includes offensive remarks directed at right-wing voters and politicians, including members of the Confederation party.
Zgorzelski was asked about the tapes during his appearance on TV Republika.
“I’ve seen a bit of it,” he said with a smile when asked whether he had heard the recording.
Pressed further about the vulgar expressions used to describe residents of eastern Greater Poland and Radom, he admitted:
“These are words that should never have been spoken. Politicians in particular should be aware that even during private phone conversations, there’s always a chance that some three-letter agency—say, the CBA—especially in the case of Roman Giertych, who at the time was under investigation, might try to set a trap.”
“If he knew such a possibility existed and still let his guard down, then we now see the consequences. If he didn’t, he has just learned a hard lesson,” Zgorzelski added.
“This kind of language is unacceptable. One cannot speak about fellow citizens in this manner,” he reiterated in reference to Tusk’s comments about the residents of eastern Greater Poland and Radom.
When asked at the end of the interview whether he too was collecting signatures on blank forms, he denied the accusation:
“I’m doing it properly. Together with my team, we are collecting signatures diligently. Do all politicians proceed this way? I dare to suspect that not all of them do.”