– I understand President Kaczyński's action in appointing Daniel Obajtek as a turnout-promoting measure. Obajtek, like no one else, will work to mobilize the Civic Platform electorate – said the head of the president's office, Marcin Mastalerek, in “Kropka nad i” on TVN24.
The head of the president's cabinet was asked in “Kropka nad i” on TVN24 about the participation of Daniel Obajtek, former president of PKN Orlen, from the Law and Justice lists in the European Parliament elections.
– I understand President Kaczyński's action in appointing Daniel Obajtek as a turnout-promoting measure. Well, Daniel Obajtek, like no one else, will mobilize the Civic Platform electorate. Donald Tusk is already using this in the campaign, so – as I understand it – President Kaczyński takes care of the turnout by appointing President Obajtek – he commented.
Mastalerek was also asked about his assessment of the fact that Jacek Kurski, formerly the president of government television, was also on the PiS list. – My attitude towards Jacek Kurski has been the same for years – negative, but the election campaign is ongoing – he said and added that he did not want to spoil the election campaign for his “colleagues”. – I will be happy to answer such questions after the election campaign – he declared.
Mastalerek on the Szmydt case: for me he is a traitor
The guest of “Kropka nad i” also commented on the actions of judge Tomasz Szmydt, involved in the hate scandal, who asked the Belarusian authorities for asylum. – I am shocked, outraged and I think that this matter must be approached very responsibly. I would rather look for unity in public opinion to absolutely condemn such behavior, call treason treason and call the traitor a traitor – said Mastalerek.
He added that Szmydt is not “the first traitor in the world”, and in Western democratic countries “there were people who were much higher than this gentleman”.
– We need to draw conclusions, Poland is still a young democracy. We have to constantly improve procedures, which is why I say that such matters require responsibility, not arguments and blame-shifting, he emphasized.
– For me he is a traitor, that is obvious. We don't know what his real role was in the past, whether the things he did at work, he did as himself, or he did on commission. We don't know that. Therefore, I believe that great responsibility is needed here. Such behavior must be condemned. From what I know, representatives of the Chancellery of the President are in contact with the Supreme Administrative Court regarding the termination of his work as a judge, he continued.
He added that “we need to ensure that such a person is not a judge in the eyes of the law.”
Mastalerek on the Szmydt case: for me he is a traitorTVN24
Mastalerek on the Duda-Tusk meeting: let the Prime Minister propose a date now
The head of the president's cabinet was also asked whether there would be a meeting between the president and Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Recently, the head of government explained that he could not meet him due to his illness. – It depends on Prime Minister Tusk, because he has already refused to come twice – he said.
– If he has not found time twice, let the Prime Minister propose a date. I think the president is always ready to talk. How many times can you invite people to meetings? And keep hearing that “there is no way, it can't be done, it can't be done,” he said.
Mastalerek: President Duda will continue to strive for Nuclear Sharing
Mastalerek was also asked about the idea of including Poland in the Nuclear Sharing program and about the presence of nuclear weapons in Poland, which was mentioned by President Andrzej Duda.
– I am convinced that we need to fight for weapons and Nuclear Sharing. The president has been doing this consistently for many years and will continue to do so. Because you cannot give in to Russian propaganda, which says (…) that Poland will be dangerous as a result – he replied.
– If there are Western politicians who say: “you shouldn't talk about it”, then the Polish president should be guided by the Polish raison d'état and just talk about it calmly – he added.
Mastalerek was asked whether, during a recent meeting in New York, Donald Trump promised President Andrzej Duda that if he wins the November elections in the US, Poland will join this project. He replied that he could not reveal the content of these conversations. – President Duda will continue to pursue Nuclear Sharing for a simple reason. If Nuclear Sharing ensures German security in Germany, it will also ensure security for us, he added.
Mastalerek: President Duda will continue to strive for Nuclear SharingTVN24
Mastalerek about the “iron dome”: this could be an addition
The head of the president's cabinet was also asked whether Andrzej Duda supports Poland's accession to the so-called “European Iron Dome”, in short ESSI (European Sky Shield Initiative). This is a project related to the construction of an allied European air defense system. The initiative was proposed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2022. So far, 19 countries have joined the initiative.
– First of all, the president believes that the most important program is based on American Patriots, because it provides a higher level of security, and this is something else. And this program, if it is a complement, can be, but not an alternative, because American equipment is better, American technology is better – replied Mastalerek.
Main photo source: TVN24