Igor Tuleya, appearing on neoTVP in Dorota Wysocka-Schnepf’s program, spoke about President of the Republic of Poland Karol Nawrocki in a crude and mocking manner, suggesting he should “convert 3 billion zlotys into snus”. He then referred to the democratically elected head of state as “the tenant of the Presidential Palace”. The Chair of the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS) commented briefly on his behavior: “Boor.”
Igor Tuleya, a judge known for his political activism against the reform of the judiciary and the government of the United Right, hailed by circles linked to the current authorities as a kind of “martyr”, was a guest of Dorota Wysocka-Schnepf on the illegally seized TVP Info.
The discussion concerned current issues related to the judiciary, including the claim that 3 billion zlotys had allegedly been deducted from EU funds for Poland due to rulings issued by judges appointed after 2017.
The removal of those judges from adjudicating is one of the goals of the so-called Rule of Law Act presented by Minister of Justice Waldemar Żurek. The project, fulfilling the demands of radical judicial circles, was described by Żurek as “a compromise” for President Karol Nawrocki.
“Numbers don’t appeal much to the imagination. When I say 3 billion zlotys, it probably doesn’t make any impression on Karol Nawrocki. Maybe it’s easier to visualize how much snus, what a mountain of it, you could buy for 3 billion zlotys. I can only appeal to the tenant of the Presidential Palace to seek a compromise with Minister Żurek and try to work something out together,” said Tuleya, with no firm reaction from the host.
The internet reacted with astonishment to Tuleya’s remarks, pointing out that such behavior is unbecoming of a judge and that it is unacceptable for a public official – especially in public – to speak about the head of state in this manner.