Thousands of people took to the streets in the capital Warsaw on Sunday to protest against their government, which Poles believe is heading down a path of authoritarian rule, eroding the country’s democratic principles.
Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaszkowski led the march, pointing out that an estimated 500,000 people attended Sunday’s rally, but local media said at the end of the march there were at least 300,000 people.
In other Polish cities, people also gathered against their government and accused the rulers of violating constitutional principles, expressed their frustration and accused their rulers of taking away basic rights in the country.
Former President Lech Walesa, the leader of the Solidarity movement that was at the center of the overthrow of the communist regime in Poland, was with the protesters, and former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, leader of the opposition Civic Platform party.
The marchers started their walk from the office of PM Mateusz Morawiecki, passing the seat of President Andrzej Duda, ending at the historic Royal Castle, where Tusk vowed to fight to win the autumn elections. Appreciated the presence of He also vowed to end the measures he described as deeply damaging and divisive to the nation.
Tusk said: “We are going to win these elections and right human wrongs. I promise you victory, the solution of evils, reparations for human wrongs and reconciliation between the poles.”
According to government spokesman Piotr Müller, Tusk and Walesa are “trying to overthrow the government.”
“The election may be the country’s last chance to stop the erosion of democracy under the ruling party, law and justice, as fears of rigging and tampering in national elections have grown,” protesters warned.
The Law and Justice Party has been in power since 2015 and has found a popular formula in which they have combined high social spending with socially conservative policies and support from the Church in the largely Catholic nation.
In contrast, critics warned that the party was reversing many of the gains made since Poland’s emergence from communist rule in 1989.