Poland: hundreds of thousands march against rightwing populist government | Poland

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

The Law and Justice (PiS) party 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 on Sunday had been the biggest political gathering since Poland regained independence after the communist period.

There was no official confirmation of the size of the rally, though Warsaw’s city hall also gave a 500,000 estimate, and central streets thronged with crowds of protesters. The city’s metro was overwhelmed as people converged on the centre. Many people waved Polish or EU flags and the mood was defiant 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 fight 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 five-year stint as president of the European Council.

In Poland, the Catholic church backed abortion bans and authoritarian politics. Young people are turning away.
The march was convened to mark the 34th anniversary of an election in 1989, won by a group linked to the Solidarity trade union movement, which proved a vital moment in ending communist rule in Poland.

Although convened by Civil Platform, the march brought numerous opposition groupings together, and banners among the crowd called for everything from trans rights to trade union representation.by rk_4rx