EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola ordered the removal of the controversial lawmaker, who, during a minute of silence to honor the victims of the Holocaust, called for prayers for the victims of Syria and Gaza.
This marked the first time in history that a member has disrupted a special European Parliament session commemorating Holocaust victims.
However, Braun, a former member of Poland's Confederation party, from which he was recently expelled, has sparked controversy with his behavior many times before.
In December 2023, he provocatively extinguished Hanukkah candles with a fire extinguisher in the Polish parliament.
On Wednesday, during the minute of silence in the European Parliament, he reportedly shouted, "Praying for the victims of Gaza; all victims are equal."
These words were spoken in the presence of Corrie Hermann, the daughter of Hungarian composer Pál Hermann, who was murdered by the Nazis in 1944.
During the solemn session, she shared her father's last letter, written while being transported in a cattle car to a concentration camp.
In the note, which her father managed to throw from the "death train," he requested the rescue of his instruments.
To this day, his cello survives, which was played during a short recital organized during the plenary session.
Criticism mounts against Braun
Braun faces criticism and potential fines for his disruptive behavior at the EU Parliament.
His behavior was criticized by fellow MEP Dariusz Joński from Poland's main governing Civic Coalition (KO) group.
"He did this intentionally to draw attention to himself because he is running for president," Joński told public broadcaster Polish Radio.
"Unfortunately, he did so at the expense of Poland's reputation. Once again, he has proven that he should not hold this position—whether in the national parliament or the European legislature," Joński said.
Grzegorz Braun (C), a far-right MEP from Poland, is forcibly escorted out of the EU Parliament in Brussels on January 29, 2025, after refusing to leave peacefully for repeatedly disrupting the International Holocaust Remembrance Day session, shouting, "Praying for the victims of Gaza; all victims are equal." Photo: OLIVIER MATTHYS/PAP/EPA
"Braun has once again shown that he is not only a pro-Russian sympathizer but also an antisemite. His behavior is disgusting. Expelling him from the chamber was the only right decision," he added via social media.
"A vile display of antisemitism in the heart of European democracy," commented the European Jewish Congress.
Grzegorz Braun may face a financial penalty and lose the right to receive 300 euros per day for up to three months, totaling around 20,000 euros.
In response to widespread criticism in Poland and other countries, the politician, who is running in the 2025 presidential elections, stated on his X (formerly Twitter) account that he did not "disrupt" the European Parliament session, but rather "supplemented" it by drawing attention to the fact that "apparently all victims are equal, but some are more equal than others."
Brussels, Belgium, January 29, 2025: Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun (C-P) leaves a mini-session of the European Parliament in Brussels marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day after being removed by the European Parliament President for disrupting the proceedings. Photo: PAP/Daniel Gnap
Source: IAR/YouTube.com/@MiddleEastEye/X/@eurojewcong/@Dariusz_Jonski/@GrzegorzBraun_
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