A new scandal has erupted in Poland involving a government representative, leading to his immediate dismissal. Piotr Matan, the official spokesperson for the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, lost his position after footage of his aggressive behavior towards a Ukrainian taxi driver surfaced online.
Scuffle and license threats
Although the conflict itself occurred back in February, it only gained widespread attention several months later. A video recording began circulating on the internet, capturing a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical altercation. The footage shows Matan attempting to intimidate the driver by leveraging his official position.
According to sources, the former official shouted at the taxi driver: "Do you know who I am? You will lose your license now." Such threats and displays of superiority prompted a harsh reaction from the voivodeship leadership.
Authorities' reaction and causes of the conflict
Voivode Józef Bręk decided to dismiss Matan, citing behavior unacceptable for a civil servant. In his statement, he emphasized that he would not tolerate the use of official status for personal gain and condemned disrespect towards people.
Piotr Matan himself attempted to provide his version of events. According to him, the cause of the quarrel was the taxi driver's refusal to fulfill an already paid order because one of the passengers had food with them. The former official admitted to mentioning his position but categorically denied using physical violence or insults.
Attempts at justification
Matan claims he has no prejudice against Ukrainians and calls the entire incident a deliberate provocation aimed at gaining popularity on social media. On the morning of July 2, he began spreading information that the video author had deleted the recording and asked for his forgiveness.
In light of the ensuing scandal, Matan announced a temporary suspension of his party membership until the case is resolved. This incident became another resonant episode in Poland, where conflicts involving Ukrainian citizens and local politicians have been recorded previously.