Controversial Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun is once again under fire after making inflammatory remarks during a televised presidential debate, prompting at least one opponent to file hate speech charges.
The nearly three-hour debate, hosted by Super Express, took a sharp turn when Braun—representing the far-right Confederation of the Polish Crown—referred to the yellow daffodil worn annually in remembrance of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising as “a symbol of shame.” His comment left the stage visibly shaken, with fellow candidate Rafał Trzaskowski (Civic Coalition) storming off in protest, calling Braun’s rhetoric “a disgrace.”
The daffodil has become a symbol of resistance and remembrance in Poland, worn each April 19 to honor the 1943 uprising in which thousands of Jewish residents fought back against Nazi deportation efforts. For many Poles, the flower is a solemn tribute. Braun’s remark, however, seemed to cross a line for even the country’s polarized political scene.
“Democracy allows room for heated disagreement—even extreme views—but hate speech is another matter entirely,” said Magdalena Biejat, candidate for The Left, as she announced plans to file a formal complaint with prosecutors. “This cannot be swept under the rug.”
Braun doubled down during the debate, also lashing out at Ukraine and Israel. He claimed Poland was undergoing “Judaization” and “Ukrainization” and, in another controversial jab, praised the idea of normalizing relations with Russia while warning that Poland was lucky not to share a border with Israel.
His combative exchange with Adrian Zandberg of the Razem party also raised eyebrows. When pressed to label Vladimir Putin a war criminal, Braun dodged and instead pivoted to a tirade against Israeli leaders, referring to their “genocidal policy.”
This isn’t Braun’s first time in hot water. He recently made headlines for allegedly detaining a female doctor at a hospital in protest of what he claimed was an illegal late-term abortion. The doctor reportedly endured verbal abuse and was prevented from treating other patients during the hour-long confrontation.
While Braun has long embraced nationalist, Catholic rhetoric, critics argue his latest remarks veered into outright anti-Semitism—drawing rebukes from across the political spectrum.
With Poland heading into a pivotal election, the question remains: will voters tolerate rhetoric that reopens old wounds, or will this latest scandal finally cost Braun politically?
