Polish MEP harasses Brazilian women over PT pin

On the morning of Sunday, October 4th, the day of the Brazilian presidential election, two voters from the Workers' Party were photographed in front of the Brazilian consulate in Warsaw. The image circulated on the social media of Polish MEP Dominik Tarczyński, who then started requesting information about the women and threatening deportation measures.

Why the Photo Gained Prominence

Tarczyński, a member of the European Parliament, published the photographs on X accompanied by a request in Polish: “If anyone has information about these ladies, please contact me via private message. URGENT.” The request was repeated in an Instagram post, where he also wrote that he would help them “pack their bags before deportation.”

What Polish Law Prohibits

Poland has a law prohibiting accessories that advocate for totalitarian regimes, such as Nazism and communism. The pin worn by one of the Brazilian women features a red star with the inscription “PT,” resembling the symbol of the former Soviet Union, but with the acronym of the Brazilian party.

How the Law Applies to the Case

Article 13 of the Polish Constitution restricts parties and organizations that adopt totalitarian methods, not individual objects. The jurisprudence of the Constitutional Tribunal indicates that the simple display of symbols, without the intention of promoting a totalitarian regime, does not constitute a crime. Recent decisions by the Court of Justice also indicate that the mere display of a pin does not meet the requirements of Article 256 of the Penal Code.

Reaction on Social Media and in the Brazilian Community

After the post, users commented, calling for the women's deportation and sharing screenshots of deleted profiles. A Brazilian woman, who identifies as conservative, promised to help identify the voters, claiming that supporting communism is prohibited in Poland. She stated that her social media accounts are monitored by the American government.

The MEP's Stance

Tarczyński did not specify what crime the Brazilian women would have committed or which police authority would be contacted. He describes himself as a lawyer and professor and is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament, as well as being a member of the Law and Justice party (PiS). In other publications, he celebrated Flávio Bolsonaro's advancement to the second round and used the phrase “Be like Poland,” a reference to Prime Minister Donald Tusk's program.

With information from SBT News, Terra, Revista Fórum.