Education Minister's "scandalous" address at EU meeting

Giertych was supposed to talk about safety in schools, but instead he surprised everybody by calling for a EU-wide total ban on abortion and ban promotion of homosexuality. He called abortion, "a legalized form of barbarism". On Friday he repeated his words at a press conference in Warsaw. He also assured that what he said represents the stance of the entire Polish government. He claimed that he consulted the content of his speech with other ministers. However, the government has distanced itself from Giertych's words with cabinet spokesperson Jan Dziedziczak declaring that Giertych did not clear his speech with the Prime Minister. Giertych's address caused a scandal in Germany, with German newspapers severely criticizing him. (Rzeczpospolita, March 3-4, p. A3) M.M.