A million in Poland join opposition rally calling for change as election nears
- Polish opposition supporters take to the streets to energise campaign ahead of October 15 vote
- Election pits pro-European parties against ruling nationalists who are making a bid for a third term in office
Around 1 million people joined a demonstration in Warsaw on Sunday against Poland’s ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, two weeks before the country holds national elections.
A dense parade of participants marched through the city centre, carrying banners bearing slogans like “We have had enough and want change” and “Together we have strength”.
Poles are called vote on October 15. In all surveys so far, the ruling PiS nationalists, who have been in power since 2015, lead by a clear margin, but may need to find a coalition partner to form a government.
According to a survey by the Ibris Institute on September 27, the governing party is projected to get 35.1 per cent of the vote and can hope for a third term in government.
The demonstration, dubbed the “March of a Million Hearts”, was called by former prime minister Donald Tusk’s centre-right Civic Coalition, which emerged from his previous party Civic Platform. The left-wing alliance Lewica also supported the demonstration.