Poland: Indictment filed against far-right leader for Holocaust denial
Polish far-right leader Grzegorz Braun, who polls at over 10% support, has been indicted for Holocaust denial after claiming that the gas chambers at Auschwitz were a "fake."
Polish prosecutors filed an indictment on Tuesday against far-right leader and Member of the European Parliament Grzegorz Braun for Holocaust denial. The charges against Braun, who has a long history of antisemitic rhetoric, stem from remarks in which he labeled the gas chambers at Auschwitz a "fake."
The prosecutor in charge of the case stated that Braun is accused of the public and false denial of the genocide committed by Nazi Germany at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a claim that contradicts established historical facts. Braun has pleaded not guilty but did not deny making the statements attributed to him. The offense carries a potential penalty of a fine or up to three years in prison.
Braun made the remarks during interviews in July 2025.
"Auschwitz, with its gas chambers, is unfortunately a fake," the far-right candidate said, later describing testimonies regarding the use of gas chambers as a "propaganda narrative."
Following the statements, which sparked a national outcry in Poland, local prosecutors requested the revocation of Braun's parliamentary immunity. The European Parliament approved the request in March, clearing the way for the indictment. Braun is already facing trial for other offenses, including a 2023 incident in which he used a fire extinguisher to disrupt a Hanukkah celebration in the Polish parliament. He has also previously claimed that Jews hold "too much influence" in Poland.
Braun leads the Confederation of the Polish Crown party, which currently polls at approximately 10% support with over a year remaining until the next general elections. The indictment comes as his party consolidates its position as a significant political force, with some mainstream political figures in the country not ruling out future cooperation with his party.
