Poles travelled from across the country to the capital, Warsaw, for a patriotic demonstration Saturday celebrating 1,000 years since the coronation of the first Polish king.
They danced the Polonaise in historic costumes, sang the national anthem, invoked their Catholic beliefs and chanted slogans in support of a conservative candidate running in next month's presidential election.
The march of thousands was supported by the Law and Justice party, the conservative populists who governed Poland for eight years until 2023, when a centrist, pro-European Prime Minister Donald Tusk took over.
Law and Justice is hoping to regain power in the next general election. In the meantime it is fighting to elect an ally as president who is commander-in-chief and has influence over foreign policy and veto power over laws.
Law and Justice leader Jarosław Kaczyński called on “all patriots” to join the march, which culminated in a gathering in front of the Royal Castle where the party's candidate, 42-year-old Karol Nawrocki, spoke to a supportive crowd.
The castle, rebuilt after it was destroyed by Germans during World War II, is a symbol of the nation's history and resilience.
Nawrocki, who was a historian turned politician, said Poland must safeguard "this heritage, this beauty, this crown that was given to us.”
”We want a Poland with aspirations, with dreams, because we are committed to those who came before us and to those who will come after us,” Nawrocki said. "We want a great Poland!”
A few US flags were waved in the march amid a sea of Polish flags, as some supporters present at the rally expressed their support for US President Donald Trump. One of them, Stanislaw Bieniek, 81, said he fled communist Poland for the US, where he gained citizenship.
“My whole family voted for Trump, and now I live here and I will vote for Nawrocki,” he said.
The rally comes as the Law and Justice party seeks to drum up support for their candidate, Nawrocki, who’s been trailing in polls behind front-runner liberal candidate, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.
Nawrocki has also been fighting the rise of a challenger from the far-right Confederation party. Sławomir Mentzen, who’s been growing in popularity poses a major threat to the Law and Justice party’s hold over the country’s sizeable conservative electorate.
Saturday’s event was a celebration of the millennium anniversary of the coronation of Poland’s first king, Bolesław the Brave. His coronation in 1025 was a historic moment, held dear to many Poles as it affirmed the country’s national independence.
The rally also celebrated another historic anniversary, marking the 500th year since the Ducy of Prussia paid formal allegiance to the Polish king in 1525. That has emotional resonance for some in a country that suffered German aggression for significant periods in its history.
Organisers estimated 100,000 people took part, though city hall — run by Trzaskowski — placed the number at 20,000.
Trzaskowski has been polling at over 30%, while Nawrocki trails behind at just over 20%. The two joined a debate on Friday seeking to energise their traditional electorates and win new votes.
The Polish presidential election is set for 18 May. Poland uses an absolute majority system in its elections. If no candidate secures more than the 50% threshold required to win, a runoff between the top two candidates.
The incumbent, Andrzej Duda, who serves as an independent is an ally of the conservative Law and Justice. His second and final term ends this summer, and is no longer eligible to run for office.
