New Left Senator Maciej Kopiec, sparks outrage by calling Polish rule over Silesia a “partition.” His remarks triggered strong criticism from historians and politicians.
Senator Maciej Kopiec from the Polish left-wing party has ignited a heated debate after claiming that “Silesia was never under partition, except under Polish rule.” His statement, posted on platform X, quickly drew criticism from historians, politicians, and social media users, who accused him of distorting historical facts. Many pointed out that after World War I, Silesia was the site of three uprisings against German rule, ultimately leading to its partial integration into Poland. Kopiec also called for the events following the Silesian plebiscite—where Poland failed to secure a majority vote—to be labeled as “war” rather than an uprising.
Droga @TVP proszę o korektę opisu Mianujom Mie Hanka na stronie VOD. Śląsk NIGDY NIE był pod zaborami (chyba że zaborem polskim), dwa, jeśli piszecie o plebiscycie, to warto nazwać wydarzenia, które nastąpiły tuż po plebiscycie (przez Polskę przegranym) po imieniu-wojną. https://t.co/cTA3aCqTz2
— Maciej Kopiec (@KopiecMaciej) February 4, 2025
Political and Historical Backlash
His remarks faced sharp responses, with historian Dr. Anna Szczepańska commenting that such views would be better suited for German nationalist circles. Journalist Rafał Dudkiewicz even labeled Kopiec’s statement as potential “fifth column” activity. The controversy also raised questions about the official stance of the Left party, especially with the upcoming presidential campaign of Magdalena Biejat. Kopiec, a close associate of MEP Łukasz Kohut—known for his controversial takes on Silesian history—has a political background linked to Janusz Palikot and Robert Biedroń’s movements. This incident further fuels the ongoing debate on regional identity and historical memory in Poland.