Tens of Thousands Gather for Opposition Rally in Warsaw Ahead of Election
WARSAW, Oct 1 (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people gathered for an opposition rally in Warsaw on Sunday, two weeks ahead of an election that could determine Poland’s future in the European Union and its democratic standing, according to the liberal Civic Platform (PO) party.
The nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government is predicted to win the upcoming election, but may struggle to form a majority due to rising living costs and concerns over the erosion of democratic checks and balances, as indicated by opinion polls.
In hopes of rallying voters to participate in the election, the opposition aimed for Sunday’s march to become historically significant in terms of turnout. “Big change is coming. This is a sign of Poland’s rebirth,” said PO leader Donald Tusk, addressing the crowds gathered in a central Warsaw square, as many waved Polish and EU flags.
Tusk, a former European Council president, has framed the election as crucial for minority and women’s rights, asserting that PiS aims to lead Poland out of the EU, which the party denies.
PiS, in power since 2015, has campaigned on promises to maintain strict control over migration for national security purposes and to prioritize financial support for families and the elderly.
“I want to be free, be in the EU, I want to have a say, I want to have free courts,” said Hanna Chaciewicz, a 59-year-old dentist from Otwock, a town outside of Warsaw, reflecting the sentiments of the opposition supporters.
The public broadcaster TVP, which has been accused of becoming a government mouthpiece under PiS rule, quoted the police estimating that about 100,000 people participated in Sunday’s march. However, Tusk claimed that nearly a million attendees were present.
Protesters displayed banners with slogans such as “PiSexit” and “The cat can stay,” making reference to the pet of PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
PiS has dismissed criticism from Western nations accusing them of subverting democratic norms. The party argues that its judicial reforms aim to create a fairer and more independent judiciary, free of communist influences. Additionally, PiS claims that its changes to public media aim to eliminate foreign influence.
However, the party has yet to gain access to billions of euros in EU COVID recovery funds, as Brussels has withheld the funds due to concerns over the Polish court reforms.
“Everybody is investing in jobs, in fighting the climate catastrophe. And we have been denied this money because someone has decided to destroy democracy in Poland,” stated Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski during the rally.
Reporting by Justyna Pawlak, Marek Strzelecki, and Kuba Stezycki; Editing by Hugh Lawson
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