Thousands of supporters of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Coalition alliance gathered in the capital Warsaw on Tuesday ahead of European elections that the head of government says are crucial for Poland’s security as it faces increased tensions on its eastern border.
The rally took place on the 35th anniversary of Poland’s first partially democratic election after World War II, which brought an end to communist rule in the country and paved the way for its transition to a democratic state.
“Nothing is given forever, we cannot fall asleep, we cannot take a break,” Tusk said, addressing the crowds gathered in the Castle Square near Warsaw’s Old Town.
Tusk recalled how Poles had gone to vote on June 4, 1989, to expel communism and the Russian lack of order and chaos from their homeland. He also spoke about last year’s march in Warsaw saying that it showed that Poland was a true democracy offering true solidarity, tradition, and faith in one’s own strength.
“Today, we must show it again,” Tusk said and called on Poles to vote in the forthcoming European elections.
“This day, June 9, these elections will be as important as the ones held on June 4, 1989,” the prime minister said.
“Nothing is given forever, we cannot fall asleep, we cannot take a break,” Tusk said, addressing the crowds gathered in the Castle Square near Warsaw’s Old Town.
Tusk recalled how Poles had gone to vote on June 4, 1989, to expel communism and the Russian lack of order and chaos from their homeland. He also spoke about last year’s march in Warsaw saying that it showed that Poland was a true democracy offering true solidarity, tradition, and faith in one’s own strength.
“Today, we must show it again,” Tusk said and called on Poles to vote in the forthcoming European elections.
“This day, June 9, these elections will be as important as the ones held on June 4, 1989,” the prime minister said.
“Please believe me that a political victory in Brussels would be more important for the Kremlin than the capture of Kharkiv,” Tusk continued, adding that there was a war going on now for power in Europe.
“A strong and united Poland and Europe are the only way to avoid the tragedy of war on our territory,” the prime minister said.
With war raging in Ukraine and a migrant crisis on the Belarus border, Tusk has framed the June 9 vote in Poland as a choice between two different paths for Poland.
High stakes
“A strong and united Poland and Europe are the only way to avoid the tragedy of war on our territory,” the prime minister said.
With war raging in Ukraine and a migrant crisis on the Belarus border, Tusk has framed the June 9 vote in Poland as a choice between two different paths for Poland.
High stakes
On the one hand, he presents a promise of a safe future in a country at the heart of the European Union under the leadership of the current ruling coalition made up of Tusk’s center-right liberal Civic Coalition (KO) bloc supported by its centrist and left-wing allies.
On the other hand, there is the right-to-center-right conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Even though PiS policies throughout its eight years in power, and especially following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have been hawkishly anti-Russian, the party’s tendency to frequently butt heads with Brussels is seen by many as dangerous in times when Europe needs to unite against the threat posed by the Kremlin.
“We are all focused every day [...] on making Poland strong, making Europe strong, Poles being united and Europe being united because this is the only way to avoid the drama of war here on our lands,” Tusk told the crowd in Warsaw’s Castle Square.
“The history of 1989 means the expulsion of the Soviet [socio-political] system from our homeland,” Tusk told the rally at Warsaw's Zamkowy Square on Tuesday, adding that “we are here today to prevent this order from returning.”
Can Tusk consolidate his power base?
Tusk’s Civic Coalition grouping is the largest in the pro-European alliance that took power in December.
Analysts say that if KO wins the most seats assigned to Poland in the European Parliament the result would boost Tusk’s hopes of establishing the coalition as the single dominant force in Polish politics.
PiS remained, however, the single party with the largest number of seats in Poland’s parliament after the 2023 general election, extending a roughly decade-long run of first-place finishes.
On the other hand, there is the right-to-center-right conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Even though PiS policies throughout its eight years in power, and especially following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have been hawkishly anti-Russian, the party’s tendency to frequently butt heads with Brussels is seen by many as dangerous in times when Europe needs to unite against the threat posed by the Kremlin.
“We are all focused every day [...] on making Poland strong, making Europe strong, Poles being united and Europe being united because this is the only way to avoid the drama of war here on our lands,” Tusk told the crowd in Warsaw’s Castle Square.
“The history of 1989 means the expulsion of the Soviet [socio-political] system from our homeland,” Tusk told the rally at Warsaw's Zamkowy Square on Tuesday, adding that “we are here today to prevent this order from returning.”
Can Tusk consolidate his power base?
Tusk’s Civic Coalition grouping is the largest in the pro-European alliance that took power in December.
Analysts say that if KO wins the most seats assigned to Poland in the European Parliament the result would boost Tusk’s hopes of establishing the coalition as the single dominant force in Polish politics.
PiS remained, however, the single party with the largest number of seats in Poland’s parliament after the 2023 general election, extending a roughly decade-long run of first-place finishes.
PiS says Tusk, a former European Council president, is subservient to Brussels in general and neighboring Germany in particular, furthermore accusing him of hypocrisy for criticizing PiS’ tough policies towards migrants on the Belarus border while in opposition before implementing similar measures in government.
“Propaganda rallies, vindictiveness, blunt manipulation as the only fuel. It’s Tusk’s June 4,” said PiS legislator Jacek Sasin in a post on social media platform X about the Warsaw rally.
European Union citizens will vote June 6-9 to choose the 720 members of the next European Parliament, who will serve for five years. Poles will elect 53 Polish MEPs on June 9.
Polls suggest the main pro-EU groups around the political center will win a smaller majority than they currently hold.
“Propaganda rallies, vindictiveness, blunt manipulation as the only fuel. It’s Tusk’s June 4,” said PiS legislator Jacek Sasin in a post on social media platform X about the Warsaw rally.
European Union citizens will vote June 6-9 to choose the 720 members of the next European Parliament, who will serve for five years. Poles will elect 53 Polish MEPs on June 9.
Polls suggest the main pro-EU groups around the political center will win a smaller majority than they currently hold.
Source: PAP. Reuters
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