The incident has prompted questions about the legality and health risks of such products, with reactions from government officials and a provocative counteroffer from Nawrocki himself.
During the debate with Civic Coalition (KO) candidate Rafał Trzaskowski, Nawrocki was seen covering his face and making a discreet hand motion.
His campaign later confirmed he was using a nicotine pouch, a product often referred to as “white snus.”
In an interview the next morning with radio broadcaster RMF FM, Nawrocki said: “I call it gum, these are nicotine pouches. It’s not a banned substance.”
Pressed on whether the gesture was appropriate during the debate, he replied: “Of course I could’ve waited, but after listening to an hour of Trzaskowski’s lies and imaginary achievements in Warsaw, I thought it was the right moment.”
The debate took place just days after the Sejm passed new regulations on nicotine products.
On May 21, Poland’s lower house adopted a law banning the sale of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches to minors and prohibiting their sale online or through vending machines.
While tobacco-based snus is illegal under longstanding anti-tobacco laws, tobacco-free pouches remain legal for adult use.
However, the lack of clear regulation has allowed these products to flourish among underage users.
Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna condemned Nawrocki’s gesture, writing on X: “The law prohibits the sale and production of smokeless oral tobacco, such as snus. This is not nicotine gum! Is Mr. Nawrocki misleading even his own campaign team?”
She added that he was promoting a “very harmful, highly addictive and illegal product to millions of viewers, including minors.”
Nawrocki defended himself, stating he had only ever smoked cigarettes occasionally and was put off by the death of his father, a smoker.
He said that he is “addicted to endorphins after working out” rather than any substance.
Asked whether he had ever used marijuana, he denied it and said he is not in favor of legalizing any drugs.
“I won’t take part in that,” he declared, adding that he holds libertarian views in general.
Nawrocki challenged Trzaskowski and his campaign staff to undergo drug and substance tests alongside him.
"I invite Rafał Trzaskowski to take tests for the presence of substances in our bodies— including drugs. Let’s show the public what’s really in our systems,” he said.
He insisted that he was not accusing his opponent of any wrongdoing, but said online speculation and media commentary made it appropriate to clear the air.
“It’s not me suggesting anything—it’s what’s being said on the internet and television,” he told RMF FM.
The controversy comes in the final stretch before the runoff election on June 1.
In the first round, Trzaskowski won 31.36 percent of the vote, while Nawrocki garnered 29.54 percent, according to official data from the National Electoral Commission.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP