Poles take to the streets protesting high prices
Former Prime Minister of Poland and leader of the opposition Civic Platform (PO) Donald Tusk's call did not go unanswered. People took to the streets to react to high prices.
On the 34th anniversary of June 4, 1989, the day of the first free elections in Poland, Tusk's call was well received by the people, who gathered for "the largest political protest in recent years". Thousands of citizens gathered in the capital Warsaw, overflowing into other major avenues and streets, overflowing the area designated for the demonstrations and then the march.
Following a call last week by Tusk, the leader of Poland's largest opposition party PO and former Prime Minister Tusk, people gathered to march for "reaction to high prices", "free elections and democracy" and "a European Poland".
The marchers carried Polish and European Union (EU) flags as well as various banners with inscriptions such as "Constitution", "Democracy", "We will win", "Enough is enough" and "Poland is Europe".
'WE DON'T WANT TO BREAK AWAY FROM EUROPE'
The march was attended by Tusk and the current mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, who was the rival of the current President Andrzej Duda in 2020 and lost the election by nearly 400,000 votes.
Addressing the crowd, Tusk said: "Here I can see an ocean of white and red flags, tens of thousands of people with Poland in their hearts, millions of people in front of their televisions. Today is the anniversary of free elections. Let the whole of Poland, Europe, the world, let everyone see how strong we are. How many of us are ready to fight again for democracy and a free Poland, just as we did many years ago? We will win."
Stating that people from all cities of Poland participated in the march today, Warsaw Mayor Trzaskowski said, "We want a democratic Poland, we want a free Poland, we want a European Poland. There is a reason why we came here on June 4th. We have to rebuild this community, wake up Poland, a community of free people, a community of brave people. We will win."
Marcin, one of the Poles participating in the march, said: "We don't want to break away from Europe. We don't want to be like Belarus."
Source: Anadolu Agency
