Polish MEPs' Walkout During Award Ceremony Criticized as Self-Defeating

Members of the European Parliament from Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) and Confederation parties staged a walkout during the presentation of the newly established European Orders of Merit. The protest, which included recipients like former Polish President Lech Wałęsa and former European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, was seen by the author as a self-inflicted blow, akin to Russian nationalist attempts to deny Ukrainian identity.

The author draws a parallel between the MEPs' protest and the Kremlin's narrative that Ukraine is merely a "Little Russia" with no distinct language or culture. This comparison highlights the perceived absurdity and counter-productiveness of the Polish MEPs' action. The article suggests that regardless of the war's outcome, the deep animosity created by such actions will prevent future coexistence, likening it to a "stupid and megalomaniacal outburst."

The protest reportedly targeted Angela Merkel but also saw some Polish participants express opposition to Lech Wałęsa, who received the highest degree of the order. The author acknowledges that Wałęsa can be disliked, whether as the leader of Solidarity or as president, and that his past involvement with the communist-era security services (as "Bolek") is a point of contention. However, the article defends Wałęsa by noting that nearly the entire nation was entangled in the Polish People's Republic (PRL) system.

Rather than condemning Wałęsa for being manipulated by security officers, the piece emphasizes his eventual break from that system and his subsequent persecution by the communist authorities. It posits that Wałęsa's difficult path ultimately became the nation's path, as Poles were the first to reject communism, thereby paving the way for global democratic transformations in 1989-1990. The author pointedly states that MEP Daniel Obajtek, whose career flourished under PiS rule, has no right to criticize this history, given his lack of personal experience with the communist era.