Thousands protest over rise of right in Poland

undreds of thousands on streets in protest against Poland's government

- shaun Walker

Hundreds of thousands of people marched through central Warsaw yesterday to protest against Poland’s rightwing populist government before a delicately poised election in autumn.

The Law and Justice (PiS) party fi rst came to power in 2015, since when it has eroded democratic norms, attacked the independent judiciary and launched campaigns against the LGBTQ+ community and reproductive rights.

“We’re half a million here, it’s a record,” said Donald Tusk, the former prime minister who leads the Civil Platform opposition grouping. He said the march had been the biggest political gathering since Poland regained independence after the communist period.

There was no offi cial confi rmation of the size , although Warsaw’s city hall estimated it at 500,000 people and central streets thronged with crowds of protesters. The city’s metro system was overwhelmed as people converged on the centre. Many people waved Polish or EU fl ags and the mood was defi ant but often festive.

“The whole of Poland, the whole of Europe and the whole world sees how strong we are and how we are ready to fi ght for democracy and freedom again, like we did 30, 40 years ago,” Tusk told the crowds at the start of the rally.

Tusk, who served two terms as Poland’s prime minister from 2007 until 2014, has returned to national politics after a fi ve-year stint as president of the European Council.