Polish protesters gather in Warsaw to oppose the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party ahead of crucial elections
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators were in the country's capital which included former Prime Minister Donald Tusk
The PiS party came into power in 2015 and it has since eroded democratic norms and targeted vulnerable communities
Hundreds of thousands of Polish protesters gathered in Warsaw to oppose the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party ahead of crucial autumn elections.
The party came to power in Poland in 2015, where it has since eroded democratic norms within the country. It also attacked the independent judiciary and championed campaigns targeting the LGBTQ+ community as well as reproductive rights.
Massive Poland Protest
Former Prime Minister Donald Tusk also attended the protest, saying that they were "half a million" strong, marking a record-breaking number. Tusk leads the Civil Platform opposition grouping and said that the march is considered to be the largest political gathering since the country regained its independence following the communist period, as per The Guardian.
While there was no official estimate for the number of people who joined the recent protest, Warsaw's city hall said that there were roughly 500,000 individuals who attended. Central streets could be seen filled with crowds of demonstrators.
The city's metro was also overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who converged on the center. Many who attended held and waved Polish or European Union flags and the mood in the area was defiant but often festive.
In a statement, Tusk told the crowds who gathered in Warsaw during the start of the rally that the entire country and even the whole of Europe and the world saw how strong they are and how ready they are to fight for democracy and freedom.
On the other hand, the PiS party, which is led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, condemned the gathering and called it a "march of hate." The protest was conducted on the 34th anniversary of the nation's first partially-free elections, according to BBC.
Opposing the Right-Wing Government
A lot of people traveled from across Poland to attend the gathering and other demonstrations took place at the same time in other cities such as Krakow. Demonstrations were brought together by a wide range of issues, such as inflation, costs of living, and rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Many have also expressed concern over a new law that is believed to undermine the country's democracy. The legislation has also been criticized by the EU and the United States as it seeks to set up a commission to investigate undue Russian influence in Polish politics.
The rally also included former President Lech Walesa, who was the leader of the Solidarity movement that played a key part in toppling communism in the country. He marched alongside the Tusk during the protest.
The massive demonstration began at Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's office and later ended up at the Royal Castle. That was where Tusk hailed the unprecedented turnout rate of the protest and committed to fighting in an attempt to win the upcoming elections, said the Associated Press.
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