European Parliament strips immunity from Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun over Holocaust denial

The European Parliament (EP) voted on Tuesday during its plenary session in Strasbourg to strip parliamentary immunity from Polish politician Grzegorz Braun. Braun represents Poland but does not belong to any political group in the European Parliament, sitting as a non-attached member.

Reason for the vote

The waiver of immunity is connected to allegations of Holocaust denial against Braun. Members of the European Parliament enjoy legal immunity that generally protects them from prosecution for actions, statements or votes made in the course of their parliamentary duties. However, the Parliament can lift this immunity upon receiving a formal request, typically from law enforcement or judicial authorities in a member state.

Stripping immunity does not itself imply guilt — it is a procedural step that allows legal investigations or judicial proceedings against the individual to proceed regardless of their status as a sitting MEP. The vote took place during a regular plenary session in Strasbourg, where the Parliament addresses various institutional and legal matters, including immunity requests.

Context

Holocaust denial is a criminal offence in several European Union member states, including Poland. Allegations of this kind against elected politicians in the European Parliament are not unprecedented, and the immunity-waiver procedure is the standard mechanism used to allow such cases to be pursued through national courts.

Further details about the specific nature of the allegations or which judicial or investigative authority requested the waiver have not been publicly disclosed. The case may now proceed before the relevant courts under national law.