Polish Opposition To Rally In Warsaw Ahead Of Crucial Polls

Polish opposition leaders are orchestrating a rally of over a million people in Warsaw on Sunday to challenge the conservative government in the run-up to the October 15 elections. The rally, initiated by former Prime Minister and leader of the centrist Civic Coalition bloc, Donald Tusk, aims to galvanize voters for the upcoming pivotal vote. Tusk, a prominent figure in Polish politics, has emphasized the importance of showing resilience in the face of government opposition. He stated, "They won't intimidate us, they won't shut our mouths. It's essential that the whole of Poland sees that no one is afraid of them anymore." Sunday's march, according to Tusk, is poised to be "one of the biggest events" in Poland's modern history as he seeks to unseat the ruling Law and Justice party. Joining the ranks of protesters will be Lech Walesa, former Polish president, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and iconic leader in the fight against communism. Leaders from various opposition parties have also pledged their participation. Wlodzimierz Czarzasty, co-leader of the New Left party, emphasized the importance of cooperation within the opposition, recognizing it as a potent force against the ruling party. The Law and Justice party, known for its confrontations with the European Union and allegations of eroding the rule of law, currently maintains a comfortable lead in polls, with approximately 35 percent of voting intentions according to IBRiS polling. Meanwhile, the Civic Coalition opposition alliance trails behind with 27 percent of voting intentions in the same poll. Donald Tusk, however, revealed that internal polls commissioned by his party suggest that the Law and Justice party's lead has narrowed to a mere two percentage points. This revelation has injected fresh hope into the opposition, with Tusk vowing accountability for the current authorities following the elections, stating, "Many of them will go to jail for blatant theft, for violating the law and the constitution." As the opposition gears up for the massive rally in Warsaw, the Law and Justice party plans to hold its own rally in Katowice, a southern city in Poland, on the same day.