Former Polish leaders Lech Wałęsa and Jerzy Buzek received the European Order of Merit in Strasbourg, while members of the Polish PiS party staged a protest against the concurrent decoration of Angela Merkel.
Awards for European Merit
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola presented the European Order of Merit to 13 of the 20 inaugural laureates, including former Polish President Lech Wałęsa and former Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek. The ceremony, also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, honored individuals for their contributions to European values across various fields.
Views from the Laureates
Accepting the honor, Jerzy Buzek emphasized the need to rethink and strengthen the European Union, noting that the era of “peace dividends” and cheap energy has ended. Lech Wałęsa framed the award as a recognition of the Solidarity movement’s struggle and warned against the global consequences should Russia succeed in its invasion of Ukraine.
Political Boycott over Angela Merkel
The event was marred by a boycott from Law and Justice (PiS) members, who protested the inclusion of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel among the recipients. Critics, including PiS MEP Adam Bielan, accused Merkel of pursuing a lenient policy toward Russia that allegedly undermined European security and facilitated the war in Ukraine.
Clash of Perspectives
While PiS representatives held a protest outside the plenary chamber, characterizing the award for Merkel as a “terrible signal,” supporters of the event criticized the boycott. Andrzej Halicki, head of the Civic Coalition delegation, called the protest “pathetic,” arguing that the opposition failed to celebrate the recognition of two major Polish figures on the international stage.
Broad Spectrum of Recipients
The list of honorees included diverse international figures, such as Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and human rights defender Oleksandra Matviychuk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the band U2 were also recognized, though they were unable to attend the ceremony in person.
