Massive Protests Against Poland’s Government

Warsaw, Poland —(Map)

On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people protested in Poland against the country’s right-wing government. The protest was the largest in Poland since the protests that led the country to become a democracy in 1989.

The marches – in the capital, Warsaw, and several other cities – were organized by the opposition to the current government. The government is run by the Law and Justice (PiS) party.  PiS has been popular with Polish voters, mainly because of its promises to help Polish people. But there are also many people who don’t like the way the government has been changing the country.

Sunday’s march was the largest political protest in Poland since the 1980s. The march was organized by the leading opposition party, but many other groups also joined in. Protest organizers say 500,000 people marched in Warsaw. The government reported smaller numbers.

The march wasn’t just a protest march. It also marked 34 years since a historic election that brought democracy to Poland. Lech Walesa, who led protests in the 1980s and later became president of Poland, spoke at the event.

The march was also an important political statement before Poland’s next election. Many people believe this fall’s election could decide Poland’s future.

The protesters are upset about many things PiS has done since it came to power in 2015. The government has continued to cut freedoms in the country. The government has been taking power away from the courts and the news media. It has also been working to limit women’s rights, and attacking LGBTQ people.

Many people are upset about a recent law that would allow the government to keep people from holding office if they are judged to have connections with Russia. The law seems targeted at Donald Tusk, who was Poland’s prime minister from 2007 to 2014. Mr. Tusk now leads the opposition.

Many people are upset about a recent law that would allow the government to keep people from holding office if they are judged to have connections with Russia. The law seems targeted at opposition leader Donald Tusk. Above, Mr. Tusk speaking to the crowd on Sunday.

Speaking to the crowd on Sunday, Mr. Tusk said, “The whole world sees how strong we are, and how we are ready to fight for democracy and freedom again.”

Poland’s government has had growing disagreements with the European Union (EU). In 2019, PiS made severe changes to weaken Poland’s court system. The EU has ruled that those changes didn’t follow EU law. Now the EU’s highest court has agreed that the changes were illegal.

But Poland’s government says it won’t undo the changes. That’s just one of several areas where PiS disagrees with the EU. PiS thinks the EU doesn’t have the right to get involved in Poland’s decisions.

Poland’s government has had growing disagreements with the European Union (EU) about its courts, as well as in several other areas. Ideas about freedom and ties to the EU will be an important part of the coming election. Above, an EU flag at Sunday’s protest in Warsaw.

The disagreements with the EU existed before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since then, many of these concerns have been ignored, since Poland was working so hard to support Ukraine.

But it’s clear that these problems aren’t going away. Ideas about freedom and ties to the EU will be an important part of the coming election.

The election is expected to be close. Most experts believe the government has better chances, because it controls the media. But PiS may not win enough votes to form a government on its own. That means any progress the opposition can make could be very important.