One million Poles take to the streets to protest the government

A large number of Polish people gathered in the center of the capital Warsaw on October 1 to join a march organized by the leader of the opposition Civic Platform (PO) party Donald Tusk.

According to The Guardian , the PO leadership is taking advantage of the chaos to gain momentum ahead of the October 15 vote, which will have a major impact on Poland’s future political direction and its role in the European Union (EU). The PO has been defeated by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which has been in power in Poland since 2015.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Tusk called for a show of strength in Warsaw and encouraged the opposition. He asserted that victory was in sight.

Mr. Donald Tusk speaks to the marchers on October 1.

"No one believed that such crowds and emotions could happen again in our history. This is a sign of Poland's great rebirth," Mr Tusk said.

Mr Tusk was Prime Minister of Poland from 2007 to 2014, before becoming President of the European Council. He then returned to politics to lead the opposition campaign “to save Polish democracy”.

The PO said 1 million people attended the "March of a Million Hearts", although Polish news agency PAP quoted local police as saying only around 100,000 people showed up.

Mr Tusk has accused PiS of forcing Poland out of the EU, something the party has repeatedly denied. However, the country’s conservative government has repeatedly clashed with the EU in recent years.

Recent opinion polls also suggest PiS is likely to win the vote but may struggle to gain a majority, amid widespread discontent over rising living costs.

PiS, in power since 2015, campaigned on a pledge to stop migrants coming to Poland, saying it was key to national security. The party also campaigned on continued financial support for families and the elderly.

"I want to be free, to be in the EU, I want to have a voice, I want free courts," said Hanna Chaciewicz, a 59-year-old dentist from Otwock, a town outside Warsaw, Reuters reported.

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