One million people protest against the Polish government

About one million people took part in anti-government protests in the Polish capital Warsaw, two weeks before general elections, according to city officials.

Monika Beuth, spokeswoman for the Polish capital Warsaw, said around a million people took part in a protest organised by the opposition Civic Platform (PO) party in the city today. "This is the biggest protest in the history of Warsaw," she said.

The event comes just two weeks before Poland holds a general election that the PO party describes as deciding Poland's future in the European Union (EU). "A big change is coming. This is a sign that Poland is reborn," former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, leader of the PO party, told a crowd in central Warsaw.

Mr Tusk said nearly a million people attended the protest, while Polish government-friendly broadcaster TVP quoted police sources as saying around 100,000 people attended the event.

Protest in the center of the Polish capital Warsaw on October 1. Photo: Reuters — Protest in the center of the Polish capital Warsaw on October 1. Photo: *Reuters*

Pre-election polls show the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party will win but may not have enough seats to gain a majority in parliament, due to discontent with rising living costs and controversy over a bill to set up a commission to investigate Russian influence in Poland.

Polish President Andrzej Duda in May pushed for a bill to be introduced that would create a commission to investigate Russian influence.

Under the bill, a nine-member commission would be appointed by the Polish lower house of parliament. It would appoint both prosecutors and judges to determine whether individuals were under Russian influence between 2007 and 2022. Those found guilty could be banned from holding positions related to public finances and classified information for 10 years.

The move has been criticised by the opposition and many legal experts as a “constitutional coup”. The opposition argues that the commission will undermine the principle of separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary. They warn that the commission could also be used to eliminate PiS opponents, in particular former Prime Minister Tusk, ahead of the general election.

The Polish Association of Judges Iustitia said the bill violated EU values and could lead the bloc to impose sanctions on Warsaw for undermining democracy. US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezenski also expressed concern that the bill would discourage voters from voting for their chosen candidates.

President Duda approved the amendment in August, removing the provision that bars convicted people from holding positions involving classified information. Instead, the committee will issue a statement saying that the convicted person has been influenced by Russia and cannot guarantee his or her ability to perform his or her duties.

Vu Anh (According to AFP )

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