According to Warsaw authorities, about 250,000 people took part in the annual Independence March. Organizers claimed more than half a million participants. The demonstration attracted various right-wing currents, from conservative supporters of the opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) to radical Polish nationalists.
Independence Day
President Nawrocki also joined the march. The march, which annually commemorates Polish independence, has evolved into a protest against Tusk's pro-European government. Demonstrators called the prime minister a dictator and carried banners with nationalist slogans. There were also anti-Ukrainian and xenophobic expressions.
Among the demonstrators were calls for leaving the European Union. Other participants emphasized Polish national identity and independence. The march highlighted political divisions in Poland, where conservative and nationalist groups increasingly oppose Tusk’s reforms. Elections will be held in the country next year.
Support from the EU
The European Commission supports Tusk’s efforts to restore judicial independence. Brussels believes the Constitutional Tribunal should once again operate according to European rule-of-law standards. However, the reforms face fierce opposition from President Nawrocki and the conservative opposition.
The confrontation escalated last week when chairman Bogdan Święczkowski and his deputy Bartłomiej Sochański were suspended. Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska temporarily took over leadership. Eight judges appointed by the current parliamentary majority decided to resume work. Nawrocki and the opposition do not recognize these measures.
Nawrocki accuses Tusk of an illegal power grab. The prime minister insists that his government is trying to restore the rule of law. He accuses the president and PiS of blocking necessary changes.
Elections
The conflict dates back to the PiS government, which ended in 2023. That party wielded great influence over judicial appointments for years. The European Commission criticized this political interference. Since taking office, Tusk has tried to reverse the contentious changes, but his reform plans repeatedly stall.
The battle over the Constitutional Tribunal intensifies political divisions ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections. For Nawrocki and nationalist right-wing groups, the conflict is an important tool to mobilize opposition against Tusk. The massive Independence March shows how widespread this resistance has become.
