Sejm strikes back

The lower chamber of the Polish parliament has reacted angrily to a resolution from the European Parliament (EP) against intolerance and anti-Semitism.

The EP mentioned Poland as one of the states where there has been an increase in intolerance caused by racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and homophobia. The Sejm passed a counter-resolution stating that: "Singular occurrences of intolerance in Poland are very scarce, and are severely criticized by the Polish authorities and therefore are not grounds for generalizations about Polish society."

The resolution was based on a draft prepared by the ruling Law and Justice, which stated that the Sejm, which identifies itself with the Judeo-Christian moral heritage of Europe, cannot accept phrases such as 'homophobia' in EP resolutions.

Civic Platform (PO) also criticized the EP resolution, but it blamed the EU criticism on radical coalition parties, whose members are famous for their controversial statements. PO did not vote on the resolution. The party's deputy, Bronisław Komorowski, blamed the government for not being able to prevent the EP from putting Poland on the black list.

The ruling coalition's deputies lashed out at the EP for attacking Poland, which they say preserves "universal values." Wojciech Wierzejski from the League of Polish Families, who was indirectly mentioned in the EP resolution as inciting violence against homosexuals, accused the EU of lying and wrongful accusations. He argued that during the Second World War Poland was an example of tolerance, and contributed to saving Jewish lives.

Self-defense leader Andrzej Lepper provoked an outburst of laughter from the chamber when he pointed to Radio Maryja and TV Trwam (associated with the Catholic right) as examples of tolerance. The only party in the Sejm that supported the EP resolution was the Democratic Left Alliance. The left-wing party accused the right of backward views, contrary to the tolerant majority of Polish society.