A thousands-strong annual rally was held in Warsaw to mark Poland’s Independence Day. The rally was attended by leading figures from the country's political right. Polish President Karol Nawrocki who won last year’s presidential election was among the demonstrators who marched holding a large Polish flag. The far-right politician secured the support of majority of nationalist voters in a close-run election.
Among the demonstrators - whose number is estimated to be 150,000 – was the leader of the main nationalist opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), Jaroslaw Kaczyński, as well as British political activist and nationalist Tommy Robinson.
Members of Poland’s more liberal government did not participate in the march, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, attending a separate Independence Day celebration in Gdańsk, an declaring that “no one has a monopoly on patriotism” and called “diversity a source of our strength”.
In the early afternoon, participants of the Independence March gathered at Warsaw’s Roman Dmowski Roundabout, the traditional starting point of the event. Many waved Poland’s white-and-red flags, while some ignited red flares despite authorities’ reminders that such pyrotechnics were prohibited. Among the banners on display was one reading “Stop Immigration, Time for Deportation.” Another, carried by members of All-Polish Youth,Młodzież Wszechpolska - a far-right group that helped establish the march 15 years ago - proclaimed “Poland for the Poles - Europe for the Europeans.” Members of the organization also burned a European Union flag.
