Grzegorz Braun polarizes public debate. Media and internet users react extremely

Grzegorz Braun's actions are causing positive emotions, especially among men aged 25–45, according to a report by Res Futura analyzing the behavior of internet users. Prof. Monika Kaczmarek-Śliwińska from the University of Warsaw presented two methods that the media can use to address the behavior of the MEP.

MEP Braun destroyed on Wednesday the boards that were part of an exhibition in the Sejm devoted to LGBT rights issues, authored by the association "Tęczowe Opole". Following these actions in the evening, Speaker Szymon Hołownia announced on Platform X that Braun had been banned from entering parliament. As he emphasized, "there is no place for hooligans in the Sejm".

According to the report by the European Analytical Collective, the event generated a lot of interest in social media, reaching 80 million views. This means that the average user encountered content related to the incident many times. The authors of the report emphasized that the topic was promoted mainly by people with right-wing views and supporters of Grzegorz Braun. Particularly strong, mainly positive reactions were noted among men aged 25-45.

Prof. Monika Kaczmarek-Śliwińska, an expert in ethics and communication from the University of Warsaw, asked by PAP about how Grzegorz Braun's actions may affect his image, pointed out the relationship between two groups of recipients.

"For people sympathizing with Braun, such an attitude will seem consistent with the previous image. It will thus constitute another "brick in the building of Grzegorz Braun"," she noted.

She added that it will be assessed positively in this target group as coherent and consistent.

The expert pointed out that in the case of people with great sensitivity, openness and respect for the LGBT community, these actions will be criticized and considered unacceptable and requiring categorical assessment, as well as punishment. "These most generally indicated two attitudes show very extreme assessments of the image, and also indicate strong polarization," she added.

As she said, many factors contribute to social polarization. One of them is activity such as destroying boards dedicated to LGBT issues, which shows people sympathizing with Grzegorz Braun their space, entrenching in their beliefs, but also a lack of openness to discussion and exchange of views.

"We can therefore say that the aggressive acts that we have seen many times in Grzegorz Braun's actions polarize society," Kaczmarek-Śliwińska emphasized.

The expert pointed out that every such act is a form of drawing and focusing the media's attention. Kaczmarek-Śliwińska distinguished two schools of thought that the media can use in response to such events. One of them is not reporting on negative actions and not promoting similarly aggressive activities. The second one, on the other hand, is based on informing and explaining to recipients what happened. It consists of showing the context, talking about the situation of excluded and attacked communities, and also indicating the legal sanctions that threaten such actions. "I am definitely inclined to the second school, which through education can influence social awareness and thus contribute to reducing polarization," she emphasized.

According to the Res Futura report, Grzegorz Braun's destruction of the "Tęczowe Opole" association's boards prompted internet users to question the presence of the LGBT community in public space. 29% of comments concern the very presence of the exhibition in the Sejm – its significance and, according to some internet users, its "provocative" nature. 24% of mentions focus on the MEP's behavior and the interpretation of this act. There are both accusations of vandalism and interpretations of it as a "performance".

Some recipients believe that "Braun showed courage". There are also comments talking about freedom of speech - these include 15% of mentions. Internet users argue about whether Braun's actions were a form of protection or infringement of civil liberties. 13% of reactions from network users talk about the decision of the Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia and the lack of reaction from the Marshal's service. In turn, 9% of comments are in the nature of a debate on whether LGBT is an ideology.

In the posts about the event with Braun's participation, emotions such as anger (32%) are dominant, which is expressed both towards Braun's behavior and the LGBT exhibition. The comments are also manifested by contempt (20%) directed at opponents or supporters of the politician. The reactions of recipients are characterized by fear (14%), joy - among Braun's supporters (12%) and helplessness (8%).

The most frequently repeated phrases and designations include: "Bravo Braun", "Vandalism", "The Sejm is not the place for LGBT", "Promotion of deviations", "In defense of values".

This is not the first incident involving Braun in the Sejm of this term - in December 2023, the MP used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the occasional Hanukkah candles set up in the Sejm; in April last year, he was charged in this matter. In April, Braun - while still a presidential candidate - went to a hospital in Oleśnica, where a patient from Łódź decided to have an abortion in the 36th week of pregnancy due to health risks, to carry out a "citizen's arrest" of Gizela Jagielska, a gynecologist performing legal abortions.

Weronika Moszpańska (PAP)

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