Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said there was "no need" for the Polish president to travel to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban shortly before that country's parliamentary elections.
His comments came after Orban announced earlier on Wednesday that Hungary would halt gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline resume.
Asked about the move at a news conference, Sikorski referred to Nawrocki’s visit to Budapest, questioning "what Polish national interest the president sought to advance."
He said the only apparent justification for the trip was to support Orban's election campaign, calling such involvement by a head of state "not good practice."
"We do not know who will win, but if the opposition wins, the president will face difficulties with the next Hungarian government," Sikorski said.
He also criticized Nawrocki for backing a politician he described as pro-Russian, saying it could harm Poland’s image and undermine the president’s role as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Sikorski said the visit "harmed Polish foreign policy because it is not Poland’s policy to interfere in electoral processes in other countries, especially in favour of candidates who help Russian President Vladimir Putin."
The president’s office defended the visit, saying it was intended to strengthen bilateral relations and serve Poland’s interests.
Nawrocki's spokesman, Rafał Leśkiewicz, said the president attended long-standing Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day celebrations and met both Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok and Orban, whom he described as "a prime minister elected in democratic elections by Hungarian citizens."
PM says Orban blocking EU funds for Poland, major loan for Ukraine
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday criticised the visit, saying it took place "against the recommendations and position" of the government and "ran counter to Poland’s national interests."
On Monday, Nawrocki took part in events marking Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day in Przemyśl, southeastern Poland, alongside Sulyok, before travelling to Budapest for talks with Orban.
Tusk accused Orban of blocking European Union funds owed to Poland for military equipment sent to Ukraine early in the war with Russia.
He said Poland is entitled to about PLN 2 billion (around EUR 470 million) from the EU’s European Peace Facility that has yet to be disbursed.
"Prime Minister Orban is personally blocking the payment of these funds to Poland," Tusk said.
He added that Hungary had also blocked a major EU loan package for Ukraine, which he said could be decisive for the course of the war.
Tusk also said he had received reports that Hungarian diplomats close to Orban were cooperating with Russian authorities and passing on sensitive information from European institutions.
He criticised Hungary for granting political asylum to former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro and his deputy Marcin Romanowski, who are wanted in Poland on charges including misuse of public funds and abuse of power.
"Such actions are clearly directed against Poland’s interests and are unprecedented in the European Union," Tusk said.
He also accused Orban of undermining EU energy policy aimed at reducing dependence on Russian resources and of maintaining close energy ties with Moscow.
"We call on all Polish politicians not to support such actions," Tusk said. “It is not in Poland’s interest to support Prime Minister Orban in his pro-Russian and anti-European policies.”
Hungary is set to hold parliamentary elections on April 12, with opposition leader Peter Magyar’s Tisza party leading Orban’s ruling Fidesz party in several recent polls.
Magyar said last month that Ziobro and Romanowski would be handed over to Polish authorities if his party wins power.
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Source: TVP Info, IAR, PAP