Controversial Polish Lawmaker Disrupts Hanukkah Celebration With Fire Extinguisher in Parliament
A far-right Polish lawmaker sparks outrage after using a fire extinguisher to extinguish Hanukkah candles during a parliament event with Jewish community members, resulting in his exclusion from the sitting
A far-right Polish lawmaker caused outrage when he used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles during an event with members of the Jewish community in the country's parliament on Tuesday. The speaker excluded him from the sitting in response to the incident. Video footage posted on TVN24's website showed Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation party taking the extinguisher and walking across the parliament lobby to the candles, creating a white cloud and prompting security guards to rush people out of the area.
Jewish community members, including children, visited the parliament at the invitation of speaker Szymon Holownia for the annual Hanukkah celebrations. Video footage captured individuals in the area covered in powder from a fire extinguisher.
Braun then addressed the chamber, referring to Hanukkah as "satanic" and stating that he aimed to restore "normality." When questioned about his actions, Braun responded, "Those who participate in satanic worship should feel ashamed."
Magdalena Gudzinska-Adamczyk confronted Braun as he put out the candles at the scene, as seen in the footage.
"I'm having difficulty breathing and speaking," she told TVN24, her face covered in white powder. "I no longer feel safe in this country."
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Holownia banned Braun from the parliamentary session prior to a vote of confidence in the newly appointed pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and indicated that he would report Braun's actions to the authorities.
Braun would face a 50% salary cut for three months and suspension of all parliamentary expenses for six months, as stated by Holownia. He emphasized, "As long as I am the speaker of parliament, there will be zero tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism."
Braun, known for his disruptive behavior of approaching and shouting at lawmakers during parliament sessions, exited the chamber and greeted other far-right lawmakers.
Despite his Confederation party being predicted to have a significant impact after the Oct. 15 election, ultimately only securing 18 seats, an increase from 11 in 2019. The party's campaign mainly emphasized economic concerns and criticism of Poland's aid to Ukraine.
Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich told Reuters that Brauns actions do not represent the country, and he expressed embarrassment over them. "Someone extinguished the Hanukkah candles, but a few minutes later we relit them," he said. "For thousands of years, our enemies have tried to extinguish us, from the time of the Maccabees to the present day with groups like Hamas. However, our enemies should understand that they cannot extinguish us."
Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Poland's Catholic church expressed his shame over Braun's actions in a statement posted on social media platform X, and offered his sincere apology to the entire Jewish community in Poland.
