Warsaw: Tens of thousands of Poles gathered in Warsaw on Saturday for a major patriotic demonstration commemorating 1,000 years since the coronation of Poland's first king, Bolesław the Brave. The event, steeped in national symbolism, drew crowds from across the country who dressed in traditional costumes, performed the Polonaise dance, and sang the national anthem. Many attendees also voiced support for conservative values and the Law and Justice (PiS) party’s presidential candidate, Karol Nawrocki.
The demonstration, backed by the Law and Justice party, comes just weeks before the presidential election scheduled for 18 May. The party, which led Poland for eight years until being ousted by centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk in 2023, is aiming to reclaim influence by securing the presidency — a role with veto power and control over foreign policy.
Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński called on patriotic citizens to join the march, which ended in a rally outside the Royal Castle — a historic symbol of national resilience rebuilt after its destruction in World War II. There, Nawrocki addressed supporters, urging Poles to preserve their national heritage and envision a proud, ambitious future.
“Poland must protect this heritage, this crown handed down to us,” Nawrocki declared. “We dream of a great Poland — for those before us and those who will come after.”
The rally also marked the 500th anniversary of the Duchy of Prussia swearing allegiance to the Polish crown — a symbolic event reflecting Poland’s historic role in the region, especially in light of past German aggression.
Organizers claimed as many as 100,000 people participated, although Warsaw city officials — led by Nawrocki’s rival and current front-runner Rafał Trzaskowski — estimated a lower turnout of about 20,000.
Trzaskowski, the liberal mayor of Warsaw, leads in recent polls with over 30% support, while Nawrocki trails with just above 20%. Nawrocki also faces pressure from rising far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen of the Confederation party, who is gaining traction among right-wing voters.
Poland’s presidential election requires a candidate to secure over 50% of the vote to win outright. If no one crosses that threshold, a runoff between the top two contenders will follow. Incumbent President Andrzej Duda, who is aligned with Law and Justice but cannot run again, will step down at the end of his second term this summer.
