Political newcomer Kukiz swore at TV presenter?

Rock veteran Kukiz, who won a surprise 21 percent share of the vote in the first round of the May presidential election, walked out of Telewizja Republika's studio mid-interview.

While off camera he allegedly described presenter Katarzyna Gójska-Hejke as a “wh..e” of right-wing opposition party Law and Justice."

The interview, which broached several topics, was pre-recorded and Kukiz's staff had apparently asked the station not to air the material.

However, the station went ahead nonetheless.

The conversation got increasingly heated when the talk turned to Polish-Ukrainian relations, and newly elected president Andrzej Duda, himself a former member of Law and Justice.

“President Duda's involvement in Ukrainian affairs disturbs me,” Kukiz said.

“It is already too late [to do anything] and it only provokes Russia,” he claimed.

“I'm more worried about the collapse of the Polish food industry and embargos than a Russian invasion,” he said.

“We have been out of the game for a long time [owing to embargos] so what's the point of getting involved in Russian-Ukrainian affairs now.”

After being challenged on these points, he said he did not want to remain on the show and walked out.

Pawek Kukiz's political grouping is hoping to dent the support base of ruling liberal Civic Platform party and its chief rival conservative Law and Justice. However, his popularity has been falling dramatically in recent weeks. A recent opinion poll found he would only just cross the 5 percent threshold needed to enter parliament.

The general election wil be held on 25 October. (nh/rk)