A far-right Polish MEP has provoked widespread condemnation after delivering an antisemitic speech outside the former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz.
Controversial Remarks and Proposed Legislation
Grzegorz Braun, a member of the Polish Sejm, made the inflammatory comments on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. While criticising a proposed Polish bill designed to combat antisemitism and support Jewish life, Braun claimed the legislation would grant "special privileges" to Jewish citizens.
During his address, he outrageously compared Jewish people to the fictional cannibal, Hannibal Lecter, and declared that "Poland is for the Poles".
Swift Condemnation and Pledged Investigation
Poland's Justice Minister, Waldemar Zurek, was quick to denounce the remarks, labelling them as "shameful". He vowed to launch a formal investigation, asserting that such hateful views would not be expressed with impunity.
The European Jewish Association also issued a strong denunciation of Braun's speech. The group highlighted his established history of using his public platform to fuel hatred against Jewish people, noting the particular offensiveness of his actions at the site of the Holocaust.
A History of Antisemitic Incidents
This is not the first time Braun has courted controversy with antisemitic actions. His past conduct includes previously alleging that the Nazi gas chambers at Auschwitz were "fake".
In a highly publicised incident in 2023, he used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles during a ceremony in the Polish parliament. This act led to the European Parliament stripping him of his immunity from prosecution.
The latest speech at one of the most significant sites of the Holocaust has further solidified his reputation for espousing extremist and hateful views.
