From two full presidential terms, they chose only gaffes and verbal slip-ups. The soon-to-be-dissolved TVP once again proved it has no intention of fulfilling its public service mission. Despite differences among commentators, all were unanimous in criticizing the authors of the segment.
The latest episode of “Dangerous Liaisons” — a program hosted in part by Dorota Wysocka-Schnepf — was dedicated to a “summary” of Andrzej Duda’s ten years as president. In a 3.5-minute teaser, only the president’s gaffes or awkward remarks were shown — all seemingly aimed at portraying the head of state in a negative light.
“Ten years of dependence on the PiS chairman, rejecting European court rulings, and filling the judiciary with people who never should’ve been there. Acts of clemency and acts hostile to the EU,” read a post on the TVP Info profile.
The segment sparked intense reactions. The prevailing view is that broadcasting such material on Polish public television — even one in liquidation — was inappropriate.
“This summary is utter nonsense. Ten years of dependence on the PiS chairman? Only a complete political illiterate or propagandist could make such an assessment,” wrote columnist Łukasz Warzecha.
“This kind of montage is nowhere near objective journalism (after all, it’s supposedly a summary of 10 years of presidency),” commented Tomasz Żółciak of money.pl.
“TVP Info must go! And 3 billion for the army! Calling it a sewer is an understatement…” said presidential adviser Łukasz Rzepecki.
“Is the public broadcaster’s mission — even while being dismantled — really to mock the head of state?” asked Artur Stelmasiak of Niedziela, sharing a far more balanced summary: