Current:Home > ContactPoland’s parliament votes to lift immunity of far-right lawmaker who extinguished Hanukkah candles -Excel Wealth Summit
Poland’s parliament votes to lift immunity of far-right lawmaker who extinguished Hanukkah candles
View
Date:2025-04-13 21:59:28
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s lawmakers voted Wednesday to lift the immunity of a far-right colleague who used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles during a ceremony in parliament last month.
The vote means that the Confederation party lawmaker, Grzegorz Braun, can face charges.
If convicted of destruction of property, insulting a religious symbol and hurting a person he could face up to five years in prison. Prosecutors want to present Braun with seven counts that also apply to earlier incidents of alleged aggression against the former health minister and public property.
Lawmakers voted to lift immunity on each of the seven counts.
The incident last month was an embarrassment to the new parliament, which was in its first session following October elections, and to the new pro-European Union government that would be sworn in the next day.
During a Hanukkah ceremony, Braun grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the menorah candles. A member of the Jewish community was sprayed and hurt in the incident and hospitalized.
Minutes later, Braun made a brief statement from the parliament lectern while the leader of his party, Krzysztof Bosak, was presiding. The party later condemned Braun’s statement.
The lawmakers on Wednesday voted to allow Bosak to keep his position of deputy parliament speaker, saying the party should be represented at that level, but the vast majority abstained or did not take part in the vote.
The Hanukkah ceremony was peacefully repeated two days later, with the participation of President Andrzej Duda, in a sign that antisemitism would not be allowed.
Braun was fined by parliament authorities in December.
veryGood! (45)
Related
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- US has long history of college protests: Here's what happened in the past
- Clear is now enrolling people for TSA PreCheck at these airports
- 9-year-old's heroic act saves parents after Oklahoma tornado: Please don't die, I will be back
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Bucks defeat Pacers in Game 5 without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard
- Maryland approves more than $3M for a man wrongly imprisoned for murder for three decades
- Kentucky Derby 2024 ticket prices: How expensive is it to see 150th 'Run for the Roses'?
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- 300 arrested in Columbia, City College protests; violence erupts at UCLA: Live updates
Ranking
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- Angels star Mike Trout to have surgery for torn meniscus, will be out indefinitely
- Jason Kelce Details Why Potential Next Career Move Serves as the Right Fit
- No criminal charges after 4 newborn bodies found in a freezer
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- 2024 NFL schedule release: When is it? What to know ahead of full release this month
- Why Olivia Culpo Dissolved Her Lip Fillers Ahead of Her Wedding to Christian McCaffrey
- 'Challengers' spicy scene has people buzzing about sex. That's a good thing, experts say.
Recommendation
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou says his 15-month-old son died
George W. Bush’s portraits of veterans are heading to Disney World
Badass Moms. 'Short-Ass Movies.' How Netflix hooks you with catchy categories.
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
Jeff Daniels loads up for loathing in 'A Man in Full' with big bluster, Georgia accent
African nation threatens Apple with legal action over alleged blood minerals in its gadgets
Tiger Woods goes on Jimmy Fallon, explains Sun Day Red, has fun with Masters tree memes