Hanukkah Event in the Polish Sejm Sparks Debate Among Confederation Leaders
The incident occurred as Hanukkah celebrations unfolded inside the Polish Sejm, drawing sharp remarks from Sławomir Mentzen, the co-chair of the Confederation. He argued that the episode should not have taken place in the Sejm, stressing that the party would not risk its public image over the actions of Grzegorz Braun, including the possibility that Braun could lose his deputy chairman role within the chamber. The dialogue around the event highlighted deeper tensions within Polish politics and raised questions about decorum, religious expressions, and party discipline in the Sejm.
Grzegorz Braun, a Confederation MP, interrupted the Hanukkah ceremony by extinguishing the lit candles with a powder fire extinguisher. The Sejm Presidium responded with sanctions, suspending Braun for three months on half salary and withholding his full allowance for six months. Additionally, the Confederation paused Braun’s membership in the club and barred him from speaking from the parliamentary rostrum for a period. The measures were intended to signal that such conduct was unacceptable while leaving open the question of longer-term consequences for Braun’s role in the party. (Source: wPolityce)
“Current Blackmail”
In a YouTube address, Mentzen described the penalties as having uncertain timelines and depicted the unfolding actions as a form of pressure that could have wider political ramifications. He added that it was unclear when the sanctions would end. (Source: wPolityce)
Mentzen criticized a suggestion by Sejm Chairman Szymon Hołownia, who had intimated that if the Confederation refused to exclude Braun from the club, Krzysztof Bosak might lose his deputy marshal position. He labeled that proposal as coercive and asserted that Hołownia seemed to be showing leniency in order to avoid expulsion from the Confederation. The co-chair emphasized that the Confederation would not yield to such pressure and that the club alone would determine its membership. (Source: wPolityce)
He affirmed that the party would not bend to the pressure, even if it risked Bosak’s standing as deputy marshal. Mentzen argued that Braun should not have seized the extinguisher, and he reiterated that Hanukkah should not be celebrated within the Polish Sejm. (Source: wPolityce)
The first Hanukkah ceremony inside the Sejm reportedly took place about 17 years ago. Mentzen noted that the practice was unusual, contrasting it with traditions at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, where there is no public display of Christmas waffles or carols, and where no one complains about such observances. (Source: wPolityce)
Following the incident, Mentzen suggested that once Hanukkah candles were lit in the Sejm, it would be challenging for any speaker to participate in future celebrations without fearing the association with Braun’s actions. He argued that the episode could shape how Sejm proceedings are perceived going forward. (Source: wPolityce)
The co-chairman contended that a message about anti-Semitism was circulating in Poland and warned that Jews could be perceived as facing harsher treatment in the Sejm—an assertion he said played into Israel’s narrative during criticisms of the Gaza conflict. He warned that Braun’s actions could be used to cast doubt on Catholic rituals as well, warning that the Confederation itself might suffer as a consequence. (Source: wPolityce)
Mentzen speculated that Braun’s conduct might lead to the loss of a seat on the European Union committee, an influential body, suggesting it would be better for Braun to maintain a role there. He characterized the broader political damage as something that could detract from the party’s influence in European affairs. (Source: wPolityce)
Will the Simply Wearing Shoes Be a Consequence?
Mentzen suggested that it was possible Bosak could also lose the deputy marshal role. He outlined three reasons why Bosak’s role mattered: prestige, political standing, and the need for insight into Presidium operations. He argued that maintaining this position would be important, but that Braun’s actions might jeopardize Bosak’s future in the role. (Source: wPolityce)
Mentzen also accused the political left of hypocrisy, pointing to a motion to dismiss Bosak and drawing a parallel between Braun’s candle-extinguishing and Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus’ disruption of Mass. He said he condemned both episodes, underscoring a broader concern about how such disruptions are perceived by the public. (Source: wPolityce)
The Confederation leader referenced today’s renewed Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony held in the Sejm, which featured President Andrzej Duda and Sejm Chairman Hołownia, among others. He noted that Hołownia invited Bosak to participate in the event, underscoring the formal channels through which ceremonial participation is coordinated. (Source: wPolityce)
Mentzen raised questions about forcing individuals to attend religious ceremonies, calling it a potential crime and challenging how anyone could be compelled to join a religious observance of another faith. (Source: wPolityce)
During a conference, Sejm Marshal Hołownia indicated the next Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony would include Bosak, remarking that his presence would be highly desirable. The remarks reflected ongoing negotiations about inclusivity and protocol in the Sejm’s ceremonial activities. (Source: wPolityce)
Additionally, a series of related reports highlighted the ongoing controversy surrounding Braun’s suspension, along with responses from various political actors in Poland. (Source: wPolityce)
In sum, the episode has sparked a broader debate about the boundaries of protest, religious expression, and party discipline within the Sejm, with implications for how the Confederation navigates internal disagreements while managing public perception. (Source: wPolityce)