Polish Opposition Rallies Thousands Ahead of Presidential Election

Thousands attended a rally by Poland's nationalist conservative opposition party to gain support before the presidential election. Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski urged supporters to be active while accusing the pro-EU government of misconduct. Despite losing power, the party still holds influence through President Andrzej Duda.

Thousands of people attended an anti-government rally organized by Poland's nationalist conservative opposition party as part of a support campaign ahead of next year's presidential election.

Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski called on his supporters to be active in social and political spheres and to back the party's yet-to-be-named candidate in the upcoming election.

Kaczynski accused the pro-European Union government of acting against the nation's interests and cited recent investigations into alleged corruption and mismanagement by the Law and Justice government.

In windy weather, up to 4,000 people with national white-and-red flags gathered outside the Justice Ministry in Warsaw, symbolizing the deep rifts between Kaczynski's backers and supporters of Prime Minister Donald Tusk from the Civic Platform party.

Law and Justice, which ruled from 2015 to 2023, faced criticism from Brussels and Tusk for judicial changes deemed undemocratic.

Many of Poland's 38 million citizens grew tired of Kaczynski's divisive rhetoric, used to galvanize support.

Despite losing the 2023 election, the party still wields influence through President Andrzej Duda, who has been blocking many government drafts.

(With inputs from agencies.)