Polish presidential candidate Grzegorz Braun staged a protest against the European Union — he wiped his feet on the EU flag and then set it on fire.
The incident took place at the Ministry of Industry building in Katowice, where the politician, known for his right-wing views, was outraged by the presence of the European Union flag next to the Polish one.
According to Braun, “This is Poland, not Brussels,” and the country should not be displaying symbols he described as “emblems of organizations hostile to us.” A video of the act spread on social media and sparked reactions both within Poland and abroad.
Braun, who represents the conservative Confederation party, has long been a vocal critic of the European Union, accusing it of infringing on Poland’s sovereignty. His actions were widely condemned by most political parties in the country, as well as by EU officials. Some Polish legal experts have pointed out that the destruction of official symbols of other states or organizations could carry criminal liability.
This is not Braun’s first provocative act. Earlier, during one of his rallies in Biała Podlaska, his supporters tore down a Ukrainian flag from the city hall building.
It remains unclear whether the prosecutor’s office will launch an investigation into the demonstrative burning of the EU flag, but public pressure on the authorities is mounting. Representatives of the European Commission have already expressed “deep concern” over the incident and urged Polish officials to respond.
