Wojciech Ślusarczyk, a county councillor in central Poland, faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

The case centres on a Facebook post from August last year featuring an image of the president’s wife, Marta Nawrocka, styled as a historical royal figure. Ślusarczyk added the caption: “And where’s Shrek?”, which prosecutors say likened the president to the green animated character’s wife, Princess Fiona.

Ślusarczyk denies the post referred to Nawrocki and argues that, even if it did, comparing someone to Shrek would not be insulting – because the character is portrayed positively.

The councillor represents the centre-right Polish People’s Party.