Nearly one million people took part in the 'One Million Hearts' march against the ruling Law and Justice Party in the Polish capital Warsaw, opposition sources said. The protest was initiated by Donald Tusk, leader of the main opposition Civic Coalition party. Although the march was covered by all European media, experts do not have high hopes for change.
OPPOSITION VOTE AROUND 30 PERCENT
Domestic and foreign polls in Poland show that the ruling Law and Justice Party has about 38 percent of the vote. The second party, the opposition party, is reported to be around 30 percent.
"THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS BECOME POSSIBLE"
Tusk, the leader of the Civic Coalition, who has been in opposition since 2015, described the '1 Million Hearts' march as a signal that something will finally change, telling the crowd: "The impossible has become possible. When I see this sea of hearts, when I see these hundreds of thousands of smiling faces, I feel that this turning point in the history of our motherland is approaching." Speaking about the rally, Tusk said, "It is not about this being the biggest political rally in European history. The point is to live in the hope that Poland will once again become a 100% European, democratic and free country."
PRIME MINISTER MOEAWIECKI ADOPTS HARSH POLICIES AGAINST REFUGEES
One of the biggest differences between the opposition and the government is the migration issue. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has a tough policy towards refugees and often emphasizes that this must continue 'for Poland's security'.
THE RULING PARTY SAYS 60 THOUSAND PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE MARCH
The Prime Minister said about Tusk, who organized the rally, "If we succeed in defeating the Civil Coalition, we will chase Tusk away. Where? To Berlin!" Morawiecki said, arguing that Tusk was collaborating with Germany to cripple Poland. The Polish prime minister even called Tusk the 'political husband' of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and said that according to police reports, only 60,000 people took part in the march, not 1 million.