During Monday's presidential debate, Grzegorz Braun, associate of the European Parliament, sparked a scandal with his message about the daffodils – a symbol of the memory of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The judaic Historical Institute has published an acute protest letter in which it demands the initiation of prosecutorial proceedings and the reaction of the European Union.
“The Sign of Shame” – Braun attacks the symbol of the Holocaust memory
During a debate organised by “Super Express” Braun accused Rafał Trzaskowski of wearing a daffodils, which he called “the sign of shame”. “A fewer days ago you were tagged with a judaic daffodils, with this sign of shame,” said the Confederate politician. In response, the president of Warsaw interrupted him, stating that he would not proceed the discussion.
Braun's words met with the sharp reaction of the judaic Historical Institute, which in his message stressed that ‘The name of the yellow daffodils «sign of shame» is not only a public insult to the victims of destruction, but besides a gross abuse of freedom of speech’.
ZIH: It's an echo of pre-war anti-Semitism
In a letter of protest, the institute stressed that Braun's statements “are the direct echo of pre-war and war anti-Semitism, which co-created the atmosphere of acquiescence for the extermination of Jews”.
“The claims about the “judalization” of Poland and the presentation of the judaic people as “an alien, destructive element” are a brutal effort to revive the rhetoric known from the mouth of criminals and collaborators.”
ZIH besides pointed out that “Zonkil is not a «Jewish sign» but a Polish symbol of the memory of the tragedy that happened in Warsaw”. “He who spits on it spits on the full community of destiny that we built after the disaster” it wrote.
Requests to the prosecution and the European Parliament
The Foundation requested ‘initiated immediately by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the suspicion of an offence of national hatred’. It besides called on the European Parliament to "considering the disciplinary consequences of the Euro MP whose behaviour undermines the democratic values of the EU".
The ŻIH besides appealed to another candidates in the presidential election to "they explicitly condemned Braun's words", stressing that "silence in this substance means shared responsibility".
— Sławomir Ozdyk (@Slawomir_Ozdyk) April 29, 2025
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"It's hatred speech." judaic institute outraged by the fact Braun said during the debate
