Large crowds assemble in Warsaw for Prime Minister Tusk’s pre-election rally

Supporters of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gathered in Warsaw for a rally on Tuesday to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Poland’s first partially free election in 1989. The rally, organised by the Civic Coalition Party, took place in Warsaw’s Castle Square, with participants carrying banners reading “We are citizens of the EU.”

Addressing the crowd, Tusk emphasized the significance of the upcoming European elections for the future of Europe and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He expressed his concerns about the outcome of the elections, stating, “I would personally very much like to be with Europe, and I can’t imagine a different future.”

The rally aimed to mobilise supporters of Tusk’s Citizens Coalition ahead of the European elections on 9 June. Tusk’s Civic Coalition is the largest group in Poland’s generally pro-European coalition government. Tusk, a former European Council president, hopes that his party will secure the most European Parliament seats assigned to Poland in the election, solidifying the Civic Coalition’s position as a dominant force in Polish politics.

In response, the previous right-wing nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) has accused Tusk of being subservient to Germany and Brussels. The rivalry between the two parties reflects a broader struggle for power within Poland and Europe as a whole.

The rally served as a platform for Tusk to rally his supporters and make a case for the importance of a united Europe in the face of external threats and internal divisions.