Far-right Polish MP uses fire extinguisher on Hanukkah candles in Parliament, calling it Satanic

A far-right lawmaker, Grzegorz Braun, in the Polish Parliament, extinguished candles on a menorah with a fire extinguisher on Tuesday, December 12, during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

This incident caused disruption and scandal as a new pro-EU (European Union) government commenced its work and led the speaker to exclude Grzegorz Braun from the session.

What happened

• Following the incident, major political factions criticised the act by the controversial far-right lawmaker, Grzegorz Braun, denouncing any tolerance for antisemitic and xenophobic conduct in parliament.

• This incident occurred before a crucial vote to approve newly appointed pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

• Speaker Szymon Holownia deemed the act "absolutely scandalous" and ejected Braun from the day’s parliamentary session, confirming his prolonged absence.

• The parliament imposed the highest possible financial penalty on Braun, resulting in the forfeiture of half of three months' salary and per diems for six months.

• Annually, members of the Jewish community attend the menorah lighting ceremony in the Warsaw Parliament.

Who is Grzegorz Brau?

Braun, a member of the Confederation party with pro-Russian views, previously made baseless allegations, suggesting a conspiracy to transform Poland into a "Jewish state" and advocated for the criminalization of homosexuality.

'Was restoring normalcy'

BREAKING: #Lawmaker MP Grzegorz Braun uses a fire extinguisher to put out the #Hanukkah #menorah erected inside the #Polish #parliament building in #Warsaw.

Another member of the Poland’s #government has claimed that there is a plot to turn Poland into a “Jewish state."… pic.twitter.com/t4PvVmH06q

— Nadia (@nir_aroma) December 13, 2023

The footage of the incident is posted on the website of the private broadcaster TVN24, displaying Grzegorz Braun taking the fire extinguisher and walking across the parliament lobby to the candles, creating a white cloud and extinguishing them.

Members of the Jewish community, including children, were invited to Parliament by Speaker Szymon Holownia for its annual Hanukkah celebrations.

After the incident, Grzegorz Braun approached the chamber podium, labelling Hanukkah as "satanic" and stating he was restoring "normality."

During the incident, bystanders urged Braun to stop, and a woman from the Jewish community attempted to intervene. However, the smoke from the extinguisher affected her, requiring medical attention afterward.