Polish MP Rails Against 'Satanic' Jews After Extinguishing Menorah
Dec 12, 2023
By Thomas Kika
Weekend Staff Writer
NEWSWEEK
A far-right politician in Poland railed against "satanic" Jewish people after using a fire extinguisher on a Hanukkah display in the country's parliament building.
The incident took place at approximately 5 p.m. local time in the Polish capital of Warsaw. A large menorah had been set up in the parliamentary building to celebrate the Jewish holiday. As seen in videos circulating online, Grzegorz Braun, a Polish MP and member of the far-right Konfederacja party grabbed a fire extinguisher and used it to put out candles on display, prompting the current government session.
Braun followed up the incident by calling Judaism a "satanic cult" after onlookers in the building told him, "You should be ashamed."
"Those who take part in acts of the satanic cult should be ashamed," Braun said.
Skandaliczne zachowanie Grzegorza Brauna w Sejmie pic.twitter.com/wWTO8vGP6F— Sebastian Napieraj (@sebastiantvn24) December 12, 2023
Szymon Hołownia, speaker of the Sejm Polish parliamentary chamber, confirmed in the aftermath of the incident that a complaint has been filed against Braun with the prosecutor's office. It has been reported that he will be excluded when the Sejm resumes its current session.
Newsweek reached out to the office of the Polish prime minister via email for comment. Attempts to reach Braun's office for comment were unsuccessful.
In the wake of the incident, Braun said that he was inviting his fellow lawmakers to take part in a "theological" debate and characterized his actions as "spontaneous." He also took to his official account on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a post from another account decrying the presence of Jewish iconography in the parliament building and spreading an antisemitic conspiracy theory about Jewish people controlling the Polish government.
Numerous figures and groups have come forward to denounce Braun's actions, including his own Konfederacja party, which released a statement online saying that it "condemns" his actions. Donald Tusk, the incoming Polish prime minister who had delivered a speech just prior to Braun's actions, also released a statement calling the MP's behavior "unacceptable."
By Thomas Kika
Weekend Staff Writer
NEWSWEEK
A far-right politician in Poland railed against "satanic" Jewish people after using a fire extinguisher on a Hanukkah display in the country's parliament building.
The incident took place at approximately 5 p.m. local time in the Polish capital of Warsaw. A large menorah had been set up in the parliamentary building to celebrate the Jewish holiday. As seen in videos circulating online, Grzegorz Braun, a Polish MP and member of the far-right Konfederacja party grabbed a fire extinguisher and used it to put out candles on display, prompting the current government session.
Braun followed up the incident by calling Judaism a "satanic cult" after onlookers in the building told him, "You should be ashamed."
"Those who take part in acts of the satanic cult should be ashamed," Braun said.
Skandaliczne zachowanie Grzegorza Brauna w Sejmie pic.twitter.com/wWTO8vGP6F— Sebastian Napieraj (@sebastiantvn24) December 12, 2023
Szymon Hołownia, speaker of the Sejm Polish parliamentary chamber, confirmed in the aftermath of the incident that a complaint has been filed against Braun with the prosecutor's office. It has been reported that he will be excluded when the Sejm resumes its current session.
Newsweek reached out to the office of the Polish prime minister via email for comment. Attempts to reach Braun's office for comment were unsuccessful.
In the wake of the incident, Braun said that he was inviting his fellow lawmakers to take part in a "theological" debate and characterized his actions as "spontaneous." He also took to his official account on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a post from another account decrying the presence of Jewish iconography in the parliament building and spreading an antisemitic conspiracy theory about Jewish people controlling the Polish government.
Numerous figures and groups have come forward to denounce Braun's actions, including his own Konfederacja party, which released a statement online saying that it "condemns" his actions. Donald Tusk, the incoming Polish prime minister who had delivered a speech just prior to Braun's actions, also released a statement calling the MP's behavior "unacceptable."
Above, a photo of the menorah display targeted by a far-right Polish MP on Tuesday. The lawmaker followed up the incident by referring to Judaism as a "Satanic cult."
OMAR MARQUES/GETTY IMAGES
"This is unacceptable," Tusk said. "This can't happen again. This is a disgrace."
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Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw, called Braun's actions "scandalous."
"There is no place for anti-Semitic attacks neither in the Polish parliament nor in Poland in general," Trzaskowski said. "I trust that the prosecutor's office will think similarly."
Mark Brzezinski, the United States ambassador to Poland, also released a statement decrying the incident.
"I am outraged by the nasty antisemitic act committed today by one of the Polish members of parliament," Brzezinski said. "The United States stands against anti-Semitism and this outrageous act must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."
"This is unacceptable," Tusk said. "This can't happen again. This is a disgrace."
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Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw, called Braun's actions "scandalous."
"There is no place for anti-Semitic attacks neither in the Polish parliament nor in Poland in general," Trzaskowski said. "I trust that the prosecutor's office will think similarly."
Mark Brzezinski, the United States ambassador to Poland, also released a statement decrying the incident.
"I am outraged by the nasty antisemitic act committed today by one of the Polish members of parliament," Brzezinski said. "The United States stands against anti-Semitism and this outrageous act must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."
Far-right Polish lawmaker uses fire extinguisher on Hanukkah candles in parliament
By Anna Koper
Grzegorz Braun, far-right Polish lawmaker from Confederation party, interacts with the media after using a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles at the parliament in Warsaw, Poland December 12, 2023.
By Anna Koper
December 12, 2023
Grzegorz Braun, far-right Polish lawmaker from Confederation party, interacts with the media after using a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles at the parliament in Warsaw, Poland December 12, 2023.
Dawid Zuchowicz/Agencja Wyborcza.pl
WARSAW, Dec 12 (Reuters) - A far-right Polish lawmaker used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles in the country's parliament on Tuesday during an event with members of the Jewish community, provoking outrage and leading the speaker to exclude him from the sitting.
Footage posted on the website of private broadcaster TVN24 showed Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation party take the extinguisher before walking across the lobby of the parliament to where the candles were, creating a white cloud and forcing security guards to rush people out of the area.
Members of the Jewish community, including children, had gone to parliament at speaker Szymon Holownia's invitation for its annual Hanukkah celebrations.
The footage showed people in the vicinity covered in powder from the extinguisher.
Afterwards Braun took to the podium in the chamber where he described Hanukkah as "satanic" and said he was restoring "normality".
Asked just after the incident if he was ashamed, Braun replied: "Those who take part in acts of satanic worship should be ashamed."
Magdalena Gudzinska-Adamczyk was present at the scene and footage showed her challenging Braun as he extinguished the candles.
"I feel very short of breath and have trouble speaking," she told TVN24, her face covered in white powder. "I have stopped feeling safe in this country."
Holownia excluded Braun from the sitting of parliament ahead of a confidence vote in newly appointed pro-EU prime minister Donald Tusk and said he would inform prosecutors about his actions.
He later said that Braun would lose half of his salary for three months and all parliamentary expenses for six months.
"There will be no tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism ... as long as I am the speaker of parliament," Holownia told reporters.
Braun, who has previously caused a ruckus by approaching and shouting at lawmakers as they address parliament, left the chamber, shaking hands with other far-right lawmakers.
His Confederation party had been tipped to hold the balance of power after the Oct. 15 election after a campaign in which it focused mainly on economic issues and criticising the extent of Poland's aid to Ukraine. However, in the end it only won 18 seats, up from 11 in 2019.
Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich told Reuters by telephone that Braun's actions were not representative of the country and that he was "embarrassed" by them.
"Someone extinguished the Hanukkah candles and a few minutes later we relit them," he said. "For thousands of years our enemies have been trying to extinguish us, from the time of the Maccabees right through to Hamas. But our enemies should learn, they cannot extinguish us."
Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Poland's Catholic church said in a statement posted on social media platform X that he was ashamed of Braun's actions.
"(I) apologise to the entire Jewish community in Poland," he wrote.
Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Alison Williams
WARSAW, Dec 12 (Reuters) - A far-right Polish lawmaker used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles in the country's parliament on Tuesday during an event with members of the Jewish community, provoking outrage and leading the speaker to exclude him from the sitting.
Footage posted on the website of private broadcaster TVN24 showed Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation party take the extinguisher before walking across the lobby of the parliament to where the candles were, creating a white cloud and forcing security guards to rush people out of the area.
Members of the Jewish community, including children, had gone to parliament at speaker Szymon Holownia's invitation for its annual Hanukkah celebrations.
The footage showed people in the vicinity covered in powder from the extinguisher.
Afterwards Braun took to the podium in the chamber where he described Hanukkah as "satanic" and said he was restoring "normality".
Asked just after the incident if he was ashamed, Braun replied: "Those who take part in acts of satanic worship should be ashamed."
Magdalena Gudzinska-Adamczyk was present at the scene and footage showed her challenging Braun as he extinguished the candles.
"I feel very short of breath and have trouble speaking," she told TVN24, her face covered in white powder. "I have stopped feeling safe in this country."
Holownia excluded Braun from the sitting of parliament ahead of a confidence vote in newly appointed pro-EU prime minister Donald Tusk and said he would inform prosecutors about his actions.
He later said that Braun would lose half of his salary for three months and all parliamentary expenses for six months.
"There will be no tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism ... as long as I am the speaker of parliament," Holownia told reporters.
Braun, who has previously caused a ruckus by approaching and shouting at lawmakers as they address parliament, left the chamber, shaking hands with other far-right lawmakers.
His Confederation party had been tipped to hold the balance of power after the Oct. 15 election after a campaign in which it focused mainly on economic issues and criticising the extent of Poland's aid to Ukraine. However, in the end it only won 18 seats, up from 11 in 2019.
Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich told Reuters by telephone that Braun's actions were not representative of the country and that he was "embarrassed" by them.
"Someone extinguished the Hanukkah candles and a few minutes later we relit them," he said. "For thousands of years our enemies have been trying to extinguish us, from the time of the Maccabees right through to Hamas. But our enemies should learn, they cannot extinguish us."
Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Poland's Catholic church said in a statement posted on social media platform X that he was ashamed of Braun's actions.
"(I) apologise to the entire Jewish community in Poland," he wrote.
Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Alison Williams
New PM Tusk read out a manifesto by PiS critic who died by self-immolation
TVN24 | TVN24 News in English
12 grudnia 2023, 16:08
Autor:
Źródło:TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Poland's newly-appointed Prime Minister Donald Tusk quoted a manifesto in a speech before parliament on Tuesday (December 12) written by a critic of the former ruling party, who died after setting himself on fire in protest in 2017.
Piotr Szczęsny died on Oct. 29, 2017 after distributing his manifesto to people in front of Warsaw's Palace of Science and Culture and then setting himself on fire two years after nationalist conservatives Law and Justice (PiS) took office.
The manifesto was a protest against PiS policies, with Szczęsny saying the party was damaging the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, deepening divisions in society and discriminating against minorities.
"I will now read something that in a sense could replace my speech today. I wouldn't change much in this text, which may have already escaped our attention and memory. I really want us to remember this man and the words he wrote before he passed away. It was a manifesto, I will read it in its entirety. I am convinced that the majority of you here in parliament, just like the majority of Poles, could probably sign onto it," Tusk said before reading out the manifesto.
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Piotr Szczęsny set himself on fire after distributing his manifesto in WarsawSzymon Pulcyn/PAP
PiS cast itself as a defender of Poland's sovereignty and identity that also improved living standards for millions by boosting social benefits and the minimum wage.
Critics, however, say PiS undermined judicial independence, turned state-owned media into a propaganda outlet and fomented prejudice against minorities such as immigrants and the LGBT community.
After reading Szczęsny's manifesto, Tusk appealed for unity on issues such as the rule of law, the Polish constitution and the safety of Polish territory.
"Everyone is deserving of respect. Everyone is deserving of their rights. What really builds a community is the rule of law, the constitution, and the principles of democracy, the safe border and safe territory. These are the issues that we should not argue or fight about under any circumstances. These are something that we must respect without exception, in order to be able to differ on other matters, to be able to differ safely, with respect," Tusk concluded.
Autor:gf
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: PAP/Paweł Supernak
TVN24 | TVN24 News in English
12 grudnia 2023, 16:08
Autor:
Źródło:TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Poland's newly-appointed Prime Minister Donald Tusk quoted a manifesto in a speech before parliament on Tuesday (December 12) written by a critic of the former ruling party, who died after setting himself on fire in protest in 2017.
Piotr Szczęsny died on Oct. 29, 2017 after distributing his manifesto to people in front of Warsaw's Palace of Science and Culture and then setting himself on fire two years after nationalist conservatives Law and Justice (PiS) took office.
The manifesto was a protest against PiS policies, with Szczęsny saying the party was damaging the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, deepening divisions in society and discriminating against minorities.
"I will now read something that in a sense could replace my speech today. I wouldn't change much in this text, which may have already escaped our attention and memory. I really want us to remember this man and the words he wrote before he passed away. It was a manifesto, I will read it in its entirety. I am convinced that the majority of you here in parliament, just like the majority of Poles, could probably sign onto it," Tusk said before reading out the manifesto.
Piotr Szczęsny set himself on fire after distributing his manifesto in WarsawSzymon Pulcyn/PAP
PiS cast itself as a defender of Poland's sovereignty and identity that also improved living standards for millions by boosting social benefits and the minimum wage.
Critics, however, say PiS undermined judicial independence, turned state-owned media into a propaganda outlet and fomented prejudice against minorities such as immigrants and the LGBT community.
After reading Szczęsny's manifesto, Tusk appealed for unity on issues such as the rule of law, the Polish constitution and the safety of Polish territory.
"Everyone is deserving of respect. Everyone is deserving of their rights. What really builds a community is the rule of law, the constitution, and the principles of democracy, the safe border and safe territory. These are the issues that we should not argue or fight about under any circumstances. These are something that we must respect without exception, in order to be able to differ on other matters, to be able to differ safely, with respect," Tusk concluded.
Autor:gf
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: PAP/Paweł Supernak
Tusk in exposé: Poland will regain an EU leader status and maintain strong ties with U.S.
12 grudnia 2023,
Autor:
gf
Źródło:TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Poland's newly appointed prime minister, Donald Tusk, said on Tuesday (Dec.12) his country will demand the full mobilisation of the West to help Ukraine, adding it will regain a leadership position in Europe and will be a strong part of NATO.
Presenting his government's plans to parliament, Tusk said Poland would be a loyal ally of the United States and a committed member of NATO, and signalled his determination to mend Warsaw's ties with Brussels after years of feuding over issues ranging from judicial independence to LGBT rights.
"Poland will regain its position as a leader in the European Union... Poland will build its strength, the position it deserves," said Tusk, later promising to "bring back billions of euros" from Brussels.
The European Commission, the EU executive, put significant funds earmarked for Poland on hold when the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party was in power because of concerns over the rule of law.
Poland has gained approval to access 5.1 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in advance payments as part of an EU programme to encourage a shift from Russian fossil fuels.
But the rest of a total of 59.8 billion euros in green transition and COVID-19 recovery funds is frozen until Warsaw rolls back a judicial overhaul implemented by PiS which critics say undermined the independence of the courts.
Despite his pro-EU line, Tusk, who was also prime minister form 2007 to 2014, said he would oppose any changes of EU treaties that would disadvantage Poland.
"Any attempts to change treaties that are against our interests are out of the question ... no one will outplay me in the European Union," said Tusk, a former president of the European Council, which groups the leaders of EU member states.
Tusk, 66, also promised his government would make defence a priority and honour previously signed arms contracts.
PiS came first in an Oct. 15 election and had the first shot at forming a government, but lacked the necessary majority to do so after all other parties ruled out working with it.
Tusk is expected to win a vote of confidence later on Tuesday, enabling his government to be sworn in by President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday morning.
But, in a post on X, PiS lawmaker Mariusz Błaszczak called Tusk's speech a "festival of lies", criticised it for lacking specific policy details and said: "This is a bad time for Poland."
Ukraine ties
The final months of Mateusz Morawiecki's PiS government were marked by a souring of relations with Kyiv, mainly over Warsaw's extension of a ban on Ukrainian grain imports.
With concerns growing in Kyiv about its Western allies' commitment to funding its defence against Russia's invasion, Tusk said Poland would advocate for continued support.
"We will ... loudly and decisively demand the full mobilisation of the free world, the Western world, to help Ukraine in this war," he said.
Ukraine also faces the possibility that Hungary will not give the green light for it to start EU accession talks at a Brussels summit this week.
Ties between Warsaw and Kyiv have been strained by a protest by Polish truckers who have blocked some border crossings in a dispute over Ukrainian trucking firms' access to the EU.
Tusk said he would quickly resolve issues behind the protest, and that Poland would ensure its eastern border -- an external border of the EU -- is secure.
Poland has accused Belarus of orchestrating a migrant crisis on their mutual border. But human rights activists have accused Poland of mistreating migrants, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, who have sought access from Belarus.
"You can protect the Polish border and be humane at the same time," Tusk said.
He said that after he returned from this week's EU summit he would meet the leaders of the Baltic states in Estonia to discuss the Ukraine war and safe borders.
12 grudnia 2023,
Autor:
gf
Źródło:TVN24 News in English, Reuters
Poland's newly appointed prime minister, Donald Tusk, said on Tuesday (Dec.12) his country will demand the full mobilisation of the West to help Ukraine, adding it will regain a leadership position in Europe and will be a strong part of NATO.
Presenting his government's plans to parliament, Tusk said Poland would be a loyal ally of the United States and a committed member of NATO, and signalled his determination to mend Warsaw's ties with Brussels after years of feuding over issues ranging from judicial independence to LGBT rights.
"Poland will regain its position as a leader in the European Union... Poland will build its strength, the position it deserves," said Tusk, later promising to "bring back billions of euros" from Brussels.
The European Commission, the EU executive, put significant funds earmarked for Poland on hold when the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party was in power because of concerns over the rule of law.
Poland has gained approval to access 5.1 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in advance payments as part of an EU programme to encourage a shift from Russian fossil fuels.
But the rest of a total of 59.8 billion euros in green transition and COVID-19 recovery funds is frozen until Warsaw rolls back a judicial overhaul implemented by PiS which critics say undermined the independence of the courts.
Despite his pro-EU line, Tusk, who was also prime minister form 2007 to 2014, said he would oppose any changes of EU treaties that would disadvantage Poland.
"Any attempts to change treaties that are against our interests are out of the question ... no one will outplay me in the European Union," said Tusk, a former president of the European Council, which groups the leaders of EU member states.
Tusk, 66, also promised his government would make defence a priority and honour previously signed arms contracts.
PiS came first in an Oct. 15 election and had the first shot at forming a government, but lacked the necessary majority to do so after all other parties ruled out working with it.
Tusk is expected to win a vote of confidence later on Tuesday, enabling his government to be sworn in by President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday morning.
But, in a post on X, PiS lawmaker Mariusz Błaszczak called Tusk's speech a "festival of lies", criticised it for lacking specific policy details and said: "This is a bad time for Poland."
Ukraine ties
The final months of Mateusz Morawiecki's PiS government were marked by a souring of relations with Kyiv, mainly over Warsaw's extension of a ban on Ukrainian grain imports.
With concerns growing in Kyiv about its Western allies' commitment to funding its defence against Russia's invasion, Tusk said Poland would advocate for continued support.
"We will ... loudly and decisively demand the full mobilisation of the free world, the Western world, to help Ukraine in this war," he said.
Ukraine also faces the possibility that Hungary will not give the green light for it to start EU accession talks at a Brussels summit this week.
Ties between Warsaw and Kyiv have been strained by a protest by Polish truckers who have blocked some border crossings in a dispute over Ukrainian trucking firms' access to the EU.
Tusk said he would quickly resolve issues behind the protest, and that Poland would ensure its eastern border -- an external border of the EU -- is secure.
Poland has accused Belarus of orchestrating a migrant crisis on their mutual border. But human rights activists have accused Poland of mistreating migrants, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, who have sought access from Belarus.
"You can protect the Polish border and be humane at the same time," Tusk said.
He said that after he returned from this week's EU summit he would meet the leaders of the Baltic states in Estonia to discuss the Ukraine war and safe borders.
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