On Wednesday, November 11, Poland's Independence Day, a march known as the 'Independence March' was held in Warsaw, organized on the initiative of nationalists and far-right forces. This year, the country's incumbent President Karol Navrockiy joined the demonstration. According to AFP photographs, he walked holding the national flag, spoke out for a 'strong and capable state,' and criticized 'elites acting against the will of the people.' The event was accompanied by heightened security measures: before the start, the national anthem was played, participants carried torches whose thick smoke enveloped the crowd, and many came in red-and-white clothing with national flags.
Discrepancy in Attendance Estimates
The main controversy surrounding the event was the estimation of its scale. According to the authorities of the Polish capital, about 250,000 people took part in the march. Meanwhile, the organizers claimed a significantly larger audience of over half a million participants. Thus, the difference between official and organizer figures is more than double, which is typical for major street protests but in this case highlights the political significance of the event.
Political Background: Tribunal and Shooting in Krakow
As AFP notes, the demonstration took place in a tense context: just days after a shooting in the center of Krakow that claimed six lives, and against the backdrop of a public struggle between Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government and President Navrockiy's camp for control of the Constitutional Tribunal. Observers note that this confrontation largely determined the rhetoric of the march and the very fact of the head of state's presence at the far-right rally.
Symbolism and Slogans
Near the Palace of Culture and Science, tents and stalls of the so-called 'Independence City' were set up, distributing rosaries, prayer books, red-and-white wreaths, hot tea, and sauerkraut. AFP journalists also recorded what they described as 'anti-Semitic and anti-Ukrainian books and items with far-right symbols.' Among the banners carried by participants, the agency's correspondents highlighted slogans such as 'Make Europe white again' (drawing a parallel with 'Make America Great Again'), 'Poland is not for sale,' and 'Remigration, deportation.'
Prime Minister's Stance and Historical Context
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in turn, stated that he would not participate in the demonstration and appealed to Poles for unity: 'On November 11, all hearts are white and red.' Right-wing extremists have been holding the march in Poland annually since 2011; according to the organizers' design, it is intended to commemorate the restoration of Poland's independence on November 11, 1918, after 123 years of foreign domination by Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
