In Warsaw, demonstrators are marching en masse against a government that accuses them of violating the constitution and undermining fundamental rights.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied in Poland on the 34th anniversary of the eastern European country’s first post-war democratic elections – a march the liberal opposition saw as a test of their ability to end nearly eight years of nationalist rule later this year.
Citizens from across the country took part in the huge anti-government march in the capital Warsaw on Sunday to express their anger at the right-wing government.
Large crowds gathered in Kraków and other cities across the country of 38 million people, expressing frustration at a government critics accuse of violating the constitution and undermining fundamental rights in the country long held up as a model for peaceful and democratic change was praised.
Crowds marched for at least two kilometers with banners reading “Free, European Poland” and “European Union yes, PiS no”, referring to the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS).
People gather in the old town of Warsaw, Poland [Slawomir Kaminski/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via Reuters]Some wore masks of ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski with the word “shame” written on them. Organizers said a million people marched, but police and city officials gave no estimate.
“I have attended many marches but I have never seen a protest of this size and with such energy. I think this is a breakthrough [the] June 4, 1989 [democratic election] was,” said Jacek Gwozdz, 51, an IT specialist from Nowy Sacz, in Warsaw.
Opinion polls suggest the post-summer elections will be hard-fought, with Russia’s war in neighboring Ukraine giving a boost to the Law and Justice government, which has emerged as the leading anti-Kremlin voice in Europe.
Despite widespread criticism at home and abroad of PiS, which is accused of undermining the rule of law, turning state media into a government mouthpiece and promoting homophobia, the opposition has struggled to garner support.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s government denies undermining democratic norms and says its goal is to protect traditional Christian values from liberal pressures from the West and to make the economy fairer.
“The silence is over”
Donald Tusk, President of the Civic Platform and former President of the Council of the European Union, welcomed supporters by saying that the voice of Poles cannot be silenced.
“Democracy is dying in silence, but you raised your voice for democracy today. The silence is over, we will shout,” he said in a speech at the end of the march.
“Half a million people are on the streets of Warsaw, it’s an absolute record,” he said of the crowds that packed the capital’s Castle Square.
Despite political differences in the opposition, Tusk called for unity and promised victory in the October or November elections.
“Today I vow to win, hold those in power accountable and right injustice so that in the end people can be reconciled,” he said.
Donald Tusk, leader of the largest opposition party Civic Platform, promised victory in this year’s elections [Kacper Pempel/Reuters]In June 1989, a partially free vote brought victory to a government led by the Solidarnosc union and set off a series of events culminating in the fall of the Berlin Wall in November.
Hundreds of buses arrived in Warsaw on Sunday, bringing opposition supporters from across the country. Some said they were motivated by a row over a PiS-proposed bill to stamp out improper Russian influence in the country.
The opposition sees the law as an attempt by the government to start a witch hunt against political opponents.
In an unexpected about-face, President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, said on Friday that he would propose changes to the law, which has also drawn criticism from legal experts, the US and the European Commission.
The EU executive said the legislation could effectively ban individuals from holding public office without proper judicial review.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Andrzej Majewski, 48, from Slupca in western Poland, who was in Warsaw to join Sunday’s march.