02:52Several thousand Polish opposition supporters gathered in front of the parliament building in Warsaw on Tuesday for a protest in support of detained Polish priest Michal Olszewski, accused of corruption under the previous Law and Justice government.
Father Olszewski claimed he had been subjected to torture while in custody, although the Interior Ministry has denied it and the prison service has called on politicians to stop 'spreading false information'.
During the rally, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Law and Justice Party president and former prime minister, alleged that current Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government was undermining Polish sovereignty. Addressing the crowd, Kaczynski said that the government's aim was "to pacify our society. It is a plan the outcome of which is, in fact, the liquidation of the Polish state."
"We must put an end to it with various types of actions, both in parliament and in the streets," Kaczynski added.
Footage shows the demonstrators chanting, holding flags and figures of the Virgin Mary and crosses.
The former prime minister also announced the unofficial launch of a campaign to prepare for the presidential elections scheduled for May 2025. "We need to create a big cover for this election, really involve tens, maybe even more than tens of thousands of people, only then will we have a chance to win the presidential elections and from that moment at least start to change Poland," he said.
Tusk's govt seeks 'liquidation of Polish state' - Thousands rally in support of detained priest amid torture claims
Several thousand Polish opposition supporters gathered in front of the parliament building in Warsaw on Tuesday for a protest in support of detained Polish priest Michal Olszewski, accused of corruption under the previous Law and Justice government.
Father Olszewski claimed he had been subjected to torture while in custody, although the Interior Ministry has denied it and the prison service has called on politicians to stop 'spreading false information'.
During the rally, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Law and Justice Party president and former prime minister, alleged that current Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government was undermining Polish sovereignty. Addressing the crowd, Kaczynski said that the government's aim was "to pacify our society. It is a plan the outcome of which is, in fact, the liquidation of the Polish state."
"We must put an end to it with various types of actions, both in parliament and in the streets," Kaczynski added.
Footage shows the demonstrators chanting, holding flags and figures of the Virgin Mary and crosses.
The former prime minister also announced the unofficial launch of a campaign to prepare for the presidential elections scheduled for May 2025. "We need to create a big cover for this election, really involve tens, maybe even more than tens of thousands of people, only then will we have a chance to win the presidential elections and from that moment at least start to change Poland," he said.
Several thousand Polish opposition supporters gathered in front of the parliament building in Warsaw on Tuesday for a protest in support of detained Polish priest Michal Olszewski, accused of corruption under the previous Law and Justice government.
Father Olszewski claimed he had been subjected to torture while in custody, although the Interior Ministry has denied it and the prison service has called on politicians to stop 'spreading false information'.
During the rally, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Law and Justice Party president and former prime minister, alleged that current Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government was undermining Polish sovereignty. Addressing the crowd, Kaczynski said that the government's aim was "to pacify our society. It is a plan the outcome of which is, in fact, the liquidation of the Polish state."
"We must put an end to it with various types of actions, both in parliament and in the streets," Kaczynski added.
Footage shows the demonstrators chanting, holding flags and figures of the Virgin Mary and crosses.
The former prime minister also announced the unofficial launch of a campaign to prepare for the presidential elections scheduled for May 2025. "We need to create a big cover for this election, really involve tens, maybe even more than tens of thousands of people, only then will we have a chance to win the presidential elections and from that moment at least start to change Poland," he said.