Tensions rise as PiS leads anniversary rally « Euro Weekly News

What started as a historical celebration in Warsaw quickly turned into something much more political.

On Saturday, thousands of supporters of Poland’s conservative opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), joined a patriotic march marking 1,000 years since the coronation of Poland’s first king—but the event also served as a rallying cry ahead of next month’s presidential election.

The crowd waved Polish flags, danced the traditional polonaise, and listened as key PiS figures—including chairman Jarosław Kaczyński and presidential hopeful Karol Nawrocki—spoke not just of history, but of Poland’s future.

“Poland’s crown has lasted a thousand years,” Nawrocki told the crowd. “And we won’t let anyone take away our freedom or tell us who we are.” His message struck a chord with many, especially those wary of foreign influence and keen to see PiS return to power.

Warsaw anniversary march becomes political show of force

While officially not organised by PiS, the party had openly called on “all patriots” to attend. And their message was clear: this wasn’t just about remembering King Bolesław the Brave, crowned in 1025—it was about standing up for Polish sovereignty today.

The timing wasn’t accidental. Just weeks before voters head to the polls, Nawrocki used the event to frame himself as the defender of Poland’s independence, drawing a sharp contrast with the current government, led by centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk. PiS figures argue that Tusk’s coalition is too soft on the EU and too cosy with Germany.

Tusk plans rival anniversary event amid crowd size dispute

Not everyone saw the day through the same lens. Earlier that morning, Tusk released a video inviting Poles to attend a separate, state-organised celebration later this month. That event, planned for 26 April, is being presented as a more inclusive, less partisan commemoration of the same milestone.

And when it came to the size of the PiS-backed crowd, opinions were, unsurprisingly, divided. PiS officials claimed around 100,000 people showed up. But Warsaw’s city authorities, led by Tusk ally and presidential rival Rafał Trzaskowski, estimated just 20,000.

Whether it was 20,000 or 100,000, one thing’s clear: this wasn’t just a march about the past. It was a carefully timed move in a political battle that’s heating up fast. And in Poland, where history and politics are so often intertwined, it’s no surprise that a king from a thousand years ago is now at the centre of the campaign trail.

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