Signature: Grzegorz Braun – An worrying eccentric or the future of Poland?Source: Wikimedia Commons. licence – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic. Author – Polish Parliament
A man of large education. Extremist. The amazing star of Polish politics. These terms accurately describe Grzegorz Braun. Being a erstwhile associate of the 1980s democratic opposition, he advocates the introduction of the monarchy today. Despite the rich achievements of the author and publicist, Braun does not shun anti-Semitic rhetoric. Although he was expelled from the Confederacy, he did not abandon his ambition to build fresh strength on the right. What is at the root of his phenomenon? Why would a million people vote for him?
In this year's presidential campaign, the first violin was played by the rivalry of Rafał Trzaskowski and Karol Nawrocki, between whom he lavered presenting a non-traditional approach to voters and media Sławomir Mentzen. Meanwhile, as many as 1,200,000 people decided to vote for Braun. What was the political career of this controversial policy?
From writer to Fundamentalist
Braun is from an intelligent family. After graduating in 1990, he became a lecturer at the University of Warsaw. At the same time he acted as a journalist, including in “Frond”, Radio Wrocław and “Magna Polonia”. Interestingly, in the 1990s he besides tried his hand in the movie industry.
In 2007, he first tried his strength in politics, wanting to take part in the legislature elections for the Real Policy Union. However, he could not collect adequate signatures. However, this did not discourage the future star of the far right. After 3 years, Braun supported the candidacy of Jarosław Kaczyński in the presidential election. In the fall of the same year, he fought unsuccessfully for the seat of councillor Wrocław. He competed in the 2015 presidential election. He won 0.83% of the vote, but that's erstwhile he started consolidating his political background.
Signature: Grzegorz Braun became known as a fan of conspiracy theories.Source: Wikimedia Commons. licence – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Aike 4.0 International. Author – Radosław Botev
In 2019, he created a monarchist organization of the Confederation of the Polish Crown, which in the same year was part of the Confederate alliance, thanks to which she got into the Sejm with a score of 6.81%. Braun himself became an MP at the Polish Parliament. In that role, he did a lot not to let himself be forgotten. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he spread conspiracy theories about it and threatened to kill Adam Sunday. After Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, he demanded the authorities not open borders to refugees. For the last 3 years, he has regularly broken Ukrainian flags in a motion of solidarity. In 2023 he extinguished the Khanukija fire extinguisher exhibited in the Sejm. However, it was not these excesses that led to Braun's alliance with the Confederate. The reason was his start in this year's election against Mentzen. However, as the results of the vote have shown, breaking up with the softer wing of the Confederate does not necessarily mean the end of his career. On the contrary, it could be a fresh beginning for him.
Go to power?
The solution to the mystery of Braun's support is crucial to knowing what Poland can expect. possibly in 2 years, he'll be able to make a union club. Already in this term, his formation formed a ellipse in the Sejm. In these circumstances, we asked for comment on prof. Piotr Forecki of CISiD UAM, an expert in investigation on anti-Semitic discourse and Polish nationalism.
The investigator points to the possible tilt of the Polish political scene to the right – we observe the progressive tilt of the Polish political scene to the right. This transition to the right-hand side has been observed for respective years. The process seen within the alleged liberal centre, which begins to talk the language of the right, replicates its rhetoric, which can be heard especially with respect to migrants and Ukrainians and Ukrainians. He stresses that –if everyone is pregnant on the right side, it creates favourable conditions for radicals even more to the right than those seemingly moderate. This is the perfect place for Grzegorz Braun, who does not dress in words and deeds, positioning himself in the function of the voice of the nation as the personification of the key values of God-fathered people. “A amazingly advanced score by Grzegorz Braun shows that anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia and misogyny, a large proportion of voters and voters not only do not interfere, but they are a package for which there is demand”, explains Prof. Forecki.
Why is it only now that this policy has any organization response? According to Prof. Forecki – Braun, he was created by the remainder of the political scene in the sense that he got distant with quite a few different words and pranks, including the public usage of violence. Its symbol became a fire extinguisher, which Braun made his trademark, a peculiar logo, due to the fact that force decided to legitimize. And that did not prevent various politicians from giving him their hand, recognizing him as a partner for conversation. He was not condemned by journalists who allowed him to talk publicly, nor was he surrounded by a sanitary cordon. But if it were not for this indulgence and slowness of law enforcement, it is rather possible that Braun could not have taken part in the elections for the office of president of Poland. The prosecution and courts have besides failed – notes Forecki.
The prof. believes that Braun's gaining real power at this time is unlikely, although the consequence of the presidential election will lead to the unquestionably strengthening of his group. Braun is an evenement on the Polish political stage. His activity exposes the weakness of the 3rd Polish – political class lacks determination to defend the ideals underlying Polish democracy. Will the Polish centre wake up in time? How about Braun build his reactionary kingdom? We can wait for the answer with concern.
Oskar KMAK
