Żurek asks European Parliament to lift Braun's immunity, fifth request over Auschwitz remarks
Justice minister Waldemar Żurek has asked European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to lift the immunity of MEP Grzegorz Braun over remarks he made on 25 August. Prosecutors say the remarks denied Nazi genocide at Auschwitz-Birkenau and carry a penalty of up to three years in prison.
The request
Justice minister and prosecutor general Waldemar Żurek has sent European Parliament President Roberta Metsola a request to lift the immunity of Grzegorz Braun, MEP and leader of Konfederacja Korony Polskiej. Żurek announced the move on X on Friday, 16 October 2026, calling it the fifth request of this kind against Braun in connection with ongoing criminal proceedings. Because of his immunity as an MEP, prosecuting Braun requires the consent of the European Parliament.
Immunity does not serve to protect Auschwitz liars.
The statements at issue
The case concerns remarks Braun made on 25 August during an online broadcast, directly after he left questioning at the IPN investigation department in Kraków. Prosecutors say he publicly denied, against the facts, the genocide committed at the German Nazi camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, including the murder of people in gas chambers. The offence is punishable by up to three years in prison. Prosecutors argue the remarks had nothing to do with his mandate, so parliamentary protection for activity linked to his mandate does not cover them.
- Braun makes statements during an online broadcast after questioning in Kraków and is charged the same day
- Justice minister Żurek sends the fifth request to lift Braun's immunity to Roberta Metsola
Charges and proceedings
The Kraków branch of the Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation charged Braun with public denial of Nazi crimes on the same day as the broadcast. Braun did not admit guilt at that point, but he did not deny that he had said the words in question. Prosecutors have since opened proceedings on their own initiative over the statements.
Such words have nothing to do with exercising an MEP's mandate. This is an offence prosecuted ex officio.
What comes next
The request now sits with the European Parliament, whose consent is required before criminal proceedings against Braun can move forward. The request is the fifth of its kind, which places it among a series of immunity requests linked to separate criminal cases against the MEP.
