Thousands of Poles gathered in Warsaw for a patriotic demonstration celebrating 1,000 years since the coronation of the first Polish king. Organized by the Law and Justice party, a conservative populist group, the event included the traditional Polonaise dance, singing of the national anthem, and speeches in support of their candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński called on all patriots to join the march, which culminated in a gathering at the Royal Castle, a symbol of the nation’s history and resilience. Party candidate Karol Nawrocki emphasized the importance of safeguarding Poland’s heritage and expressed a vision for a great Poland with aspirations and dreams.
Despite the predominantly Polish flags waving at the rally, a few US flags were also present as some supporters expressed their admiration for US President Donald Trump. One supporter, Stanislaw Bieniek, an 81-year-old who gained US citizenship after fleeing communist Poland, voiced his support for Nawrocki. The Law and Justice party is seeking to drum up support for their candidate, Nawrocki, who is trailing in polls behind liberal candidate Rafał Trzaskowski and far-right challenger Sławomir Mentzen. The rally, which attracted an estimated 100,000 participants, marked the historic anniversaries of Poland’s first king’s coronation in 1025 and the Ducy of Prussia pledging allegiance to the Polish king in 1525.
The upcoming presidential election in Poland, set for 18 May, is expected to be a close race between Trzaskowski and Nawrocki. Trzaskowski, polling at over 30%, is the front-runner, while Nawrocki is trailing behind at just over 20%. The election will use an absolute majority system, where a runoff between the top two candidates will occur if no one secures more than the required 50% threshold. The incumbent president, Andrzej Duda, serves as an independent ally of the Law and Justice party and is ending his second and final term this summer, making him ineligible to run for office again.
The Law and Justice party, which governed Poland for eight years until 2023 when a centrist government took over, is aiming to regain power in the next general election. The party sees electing an ally as president as crucial for influencing foreign policy and veto power over laws. The event in Warsaw not only celebrated historic milestones in Poland’s history but also aimed to energize supporters and secure votes for their candidate. The rally emphasized themes of patriotism, heritage, and aspirations for a strong and united Poland, appealing to a significant conservative electorate in the country.
The march in Warsaw showcased the patriotic spirit of Poles as they gathered to commemorate significant events in their nation’s history and express their support for a conservative candidate in the upcoming presidential election. The presence of US flags among the sea of Polish flags indicated some supporters’ admiration for US President Donald Trump. As the election date approaches, both the Law and Justice party and its opponents are working to rally their supporters and secure votes in a closely contested race. The outcome of the election will determine the country’s future leadership and direction, with issues of heritage, aspirations, and national pride at the forefront of the political discourse in Poland.
