An MEP from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is to petition the government for the removal of crosses from Polish schools.
Joanna Senyszyn has also included all public offices and institutions as well as the Polish parliament on the list of places where religious symbols should be removed. The MEP argues that their presence in state institutions runs counter to Poland’s constitution, which clearly separates the Church from the State.
Senyszyn says that the place of the cross is in churches and private homes only.
The leftwinger’s demands follow a verdict by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on November 3, which found displaying crosses in Italian schools in violation of that country’s Supreme Law of the Land. The ruling has evoked strong criticism in Poland.
"I will not comment on any kinds of nonsense ideas," said Pawel Gras, a government spokesperson, adding that the government is not taking the petition seriously.
Last week, President Lech Kaczynski said his country will never agree to remove crosses from its schools. (ss)