Poland’s Law and Justice party (PiS) protests EU migration pact in Warsaw

Poland’s Law and Justice party (PiS) staged a large protest in Warsaw against the EU’s migration pact and Mercosur trade deal, citing sovereignty fears.

PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński demanded the removal of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and charged that the present administration was trying to make Poland a "German protectorate." But because so few people showed up, Tusk called the gathering a "fiasco."

In July, Kaczyński declared that his party would stage an anti-illegal immigration protest in Warsaw on October 11.

"All patriotic forces should attend,"

he urged.

Later, it was revealed that the rally would also voice opposition to the proposed EU-Mercosur trade deal, which has been strongly opposed in Poland, including by Tusk's government, due to concerns that Polish farmers would suffer from the increasing influx of agricultural products.

This afternoon, thousands of Polish citizens flocked to Castle Square in Warsaw for an event called

"Stop illegal migration! Cease the Mercosur agreement! Some wore headgear that read "Make Poland Great Again,"

a parody of Donald Trump's well-known catchphrase, while others waved Polish flags.

However, he mostly criticized Tusk's government for allegedly pushing Poland "towards a very serious crisis or perhaps even the complete destruction of the Polish state as a sovereign state," rather than the EU specifically.

“This is a demonstration against illegal immigration, against the migration pact, against all these actions that are intended to bring misfortune to Poland,”

said Kaczyński during his speech to the crowd.

Kaczyński asserted that Tusk wanted to make Poland a "German protectorate."

"We have to fire Tusk.[and] restore everything that this regime has been able to ruin.
Mateusz Morawiecki, a former prime minister and deputy head of the PiS, cautioned that the Mercosur deal would "mean poverty for Polish farmers."

Meanwhile, Sławomir Mentzen, one of the leaders of the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja), another opposition party, declared that neither Tusk nor Kaczyński can be trusted on this issue.

“PiS demonstrating against immigration is as credible as Tusk boasting about the [anti-migrant] barrier on the border with Belarus,”

wrote Mentzen.

“On both issues, Tusk and Kaczyński are as bad as each other. Maybe that’s why so few people showed up [for today’s PiS protest]?”

His party displayed a banner at the event saying “the PiS government issued 366,000 visas to immigrants from Africa and Asia”.

How has the Tusk government officially responded to the Warsaw protest?

Tusk acknowledged the government's endeavors regarding border security, stating that the border with Belarus is "now the most secure border in Europe" and emphasized enforcement of visa and asylum rules.

The government continues to assert that it is "taking action, not talking," to enforce responsible immigration.

Tusk did not speak to concerns about the Mercosur trade deal but understood his citizens' needs to be assured that migration would be handled responsibly.

While he was clear about the government's position, he cautiously refrained from provoking the opposing PiS. For example, PiS has accused Tusk of misleading the public about the government's immigration policies.