An anti-abortion exhibition organized at the European Parliament by an ultraconservative group of Polish representatives has provoked scuffles between rival MEPs.
The anti-abortion exhibition ‘Life and Children in Europe’ opened by the League of Polish Families evoked a very strong reaction among social democratic women MEPs in Strasbourg. The photos on display showed not only human foetuses but also children in concentration camps behind barbed wire. This association with the Nazis, was too much for the social activists. They decided to remove the pictures.
Since the exhibition was in fact legal, the Polish ultraconservative MEPs didn’t allow it to be destroyed, It all ended up with a fight, when the MEPs started abusing each other. Guards had to intervene.
The exhibition was removed. Maciej Giertych, the founder of the League based in Strasbourg says he didn’t expect the exhibition to provoke a ban.
In Poland, a predominantly Roman Catholic country, abortion is banned, but it never stops being a hot topic in political and social discussions. Feminists and conservatives are waging a constant battle for and against liberalizing the law.
Therefore, the very exhibition had previously been mounted within the Houses of Parliament in Warsaw. Konrad Szymanski of the ruling conservative Law and Justice party, says the League has a right to express its views especially when they concern human life.
The League of Polish Families – the far right wing party claim always to be ready to protect Polish values and religion. Now, they seem to be using the religious symbols for political goals, according political scientist Waldemar Dziak.
'The League of Polish Families is in an incredibly difficult situation now. They had to withdraw the candidate Maciej Giertych in the presidential elections in October due to shamefully low support, their presence in parliament is hardly noticeable and so is their popularity among the electorate. Since the ruling Law and Justice party has marginalized them, they are triying to leave a mark and justify their activities by showing themselves as the best defenders of the Polish nation, religion and Polish values. However, this seems to be going against the the grain.’
This is not the first time the League has made something very noticeable and controversial to mark its presence in the European Parliament. It seems that Strasbourg has little choice but to slowly get used to their ways.
|