WARSAW – Over the weekend, thousands of individuals gathered in Warsaw for an anti-government rally organized by Poland’s nationalist conservative opposition party. The event aimed to rally support ahead of next year’s presidential election.
During the rally, Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski urged supporters to become more involved at both social and political levels. He also called for backing the party’s candidate in the upcoming presidential race, although the candidate has yet to be named.
Kaczynski used the platform to criticize the pro-European Union government, accusing it of acting against the nation’s interests and disregarding its laws. He specifically pointed to ongoing investigations into alleged mismanagement and corruption within the Law and Justice government.
Approximately 4,000 attendees waved national white-and-red flags in blustery weather outside the Justice Ministry, a location that holds symbolic significance due to the deep-rooted divisions between Kaczynski’s supporters and those of Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister and leader of the center-right Civic Platform party.
Law and Justice, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, faced criticism from both Brussels and Tusk for implementing what were viewed as undemocratic changes to the country’s judicial system.
The aggressive and polarizing language used by Kaczynski to rally support also rubbed many citizens the wrong way. His style, coupled with his behind-the-scenes influence on government policies, led to fatigue among the population.
Although Law and Justice lost power in the 2023 election, they still maintain control through President Andrzej Duda, a close ally. Duda, who is serving his final term until August, has been vetoing numerous draft laws proposed by the government.
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