By Matt Underwood 
A far-right Polish politician, Grzegorz Braun, who’s also a candidate in Poland’s upcoming presidential election, was ejected from a European Parliament meeting for disrupting a moment of silence honoring Holocaust victims. This incident, occurring during a plenary session marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, was a blatant display of disrespect.
Braun’s interruption took the form of shouting, “Let’s pray for the victims of the Jewish genocide in Gaza,” directly counter to the solemn commemoration of the six million Jews systematically murdered during the Holocaust. Despite repeated calls for silence, he persisted, leading to his removal from the chamber by Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
His attempt to justify his actions on social media, claiming he “supplemented” the minute of silence, rather than disrupting it, only served to further inflame the situation. This wasn’t Braun’s first controversial act; his history includes extinguishing Hanukkah menorah candles with a fire extinguisher in the Polish parliament, an incident that led to the revocation of his parliamentary immunity and subsequent charges.
His actions highlight a pattern of behavior marked by antisemitic incidents and pro-Russian stances. Accusations against him encompass a wide range of offenses, from assaulting and defaming a former Polish health minister to vandalizing a Christmas tree and damaging property at the German Historical Institute in Warsaw. He’s also accused of publicly insulting religious beliefs and destroying religious symbols. These actions, coupled with his recent expulsion from the Confederation party after launching his presidential bid, paint a picture of a consistently disruptive and controversial figure.
His presidential campaign, though unlikely to succeed—polls suggest he enjoys only about 2% support—further underscores the unsettling presence of far-right extremism in Polish politics. While his low approval rating might offer a sliver of comfort, the fact that a significant portion of the population, however small, supports his agenda is deeply concerning. The idea that one in fifty people might vote for such an individual is alarming, even accounting for potential trolling or a desire to see political upheaval.
Braun’s actions go beyond mere political disagreement; they are deeply offensive and disrespectful to the memory of Holocaust victims. His attempts to link the suffering of Holocaust victims to events in Gaza are not only historically inaccurate but also serve as a cynical attempt to deflect from his antisemitic views. The casual disregard for the gravity of the Holocaust displayed by Braun and his supporters is truly disturbing.
The incident highlights the ongoing struggle against hate speech and extremism. While it’s tempting to dismiss him as a fringe figure, his actions and the small but existent support he garners serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by individuals who promote hatred and intolerance. The fact that such individuals can attain positions of power, even momentarily, is a worrying testament to the complexities and vulnerabilities within democratic systems.
The situation leaves one contemplating the appropriate responses to such blatant acts of disrespect and hate. The debate over how best to address this kind of extremism continues to rage, balancing concerns for free speech with the need to protect vulnerable communities from the harmful effects of hate. It’s a challenging issue, one that demands ongoing vigilance and thoughtful consideration. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of remembering the past, and fighting to prevent similar atrocities from happening again. While his expulsion offers a measure of justice, it doesn’t fully address the deeper societal issues that allowed someone with such views to gain a platform in the first place.