Tens of thousands join Poland’s nationalist Independence Day march

Tens of thousands of nationalist sympathisers have gathered in Warsaw to mark Poland’s Independence Day, an event that has long been a source of tension in the country. The march, held annually on November 11 to commemorate the end of the partition of Poland by Russia, Prussia, and Austria in 1918, took place amidst heightened national anxiety following a recent mass shooting in Krakow.

Participants carrying national flags assembled in the city center on Wednesday, with a significant police presence deployed to maintain order. The event, which organizers promoted under the slogan “A Pole is the host in Poland,” has historically faced criticism for anti-Semitic and anti-immigration rhetoric. Supporters maintain that the gathering is a necessary expression of national pride. This year, organizers expected a record turnout, including international participants from Spain’s Revuelta movement and Hungary’s Mi Hazank party.

Tens of thousands of nationalists marched in Warsaw following a deadly shooting linked to far-right ideology.

President Karol Nawrocki, a conservative-nationalist, was present at the demonstration. Addressing the crowd, he criticized the current centrist government, arguing that the nation should not be managed by political elites against the will of its citizens. The march occurred only days after a 24-year-old gunman opened fire in Krakow’s main square. The suspect, who died in a hospital after being shot by police on Saturday, reportedly held an interest in the neo-Nazi mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik. The Krakow attack resulted in six deaths and over a dozen injuries.

Why it matters

The convergence of a nationalist demonstration and the recent Krakow tragedy has deepened political divisions within Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for national restraint and unity, emphasizing that the country’s independence and security are common goods that transcend political opposition.

This event highlights the ongoing friction between Poland’s nationalist groups and the governing centrists. For international observers, the incident underscores the challenges of managing political extremism and public safety in a climate of intense ideological polarization.