Donald Tusk was asked about the events during the farmers’ protest. During the clashes, he said, “the police behaved with extreme restraint and were attacked by some of the demonstrators with paving stones.” However, Tusk’s assurances about the officers’ “restraint” are contradicted by numerous reports and materials.
During yesterday’s farmers’ protest in Warsaw, there were clashes between march participants and police in front of the Sejm buildings. The officers used, among other things, batons and tear gas. Water cannons also appeared in the streets in front of parliament, and police cordons blocked routes. A video also appeared online showing one of the officers throwing something at the protesters. Thirteen police officers were reportedly injured as a result of the clashes. Several dozen people were arrested. Even during the clashes, there were voices suggesting that there had been a provocation.
READ MORE: REPORT. The farmers’ protest in Warsaw ended. The police asked the demonstrators to disperse. Was there a provocation?
‘I’m not going to talk to hooligans’
Meanwhile, what does Donald Tusk think of the events before the Sejm?
Everyone saw what happened in Warsaw. There were protesting farmers, accompanied by representatives of Piotr Duda’s “Solidarity” and people who committed acts of violence against law enforcement agencies for political or other reasons
– Tusk said during the press conference.
I won’t talk to hooligans, I will talk to farmers
– he announced.
READ MORE: Tusk claims he will deliver an “important message” to farmers. But? “I have not made an appointment with the representatives (…) for negotiations”
Tusk blames the protesters
When asked why Polish police threw stones or paving stones at protesting farmers, which the journalist said can be seen in many recordings available online, the prime minister said that “this is not true.” As he noted, “no such information exists.”
If you have information about deliberate, organized provocations, go immediately to the police and the prosecutor’s office and report it, because you are talking about crimes committed.
– Tusk said and added that “an investigation will definitely be conducted”
In addition, Tuska announced that he had seen the recordings mentioned by the journalist on the Internet.
I know those recordings you’re talking about. I saw them. A few dozen different photos from twenty years ago, from five years ago, that would prove police brutality. I agree that we are facing many provocations, but I assure you that this party (the police – ed.) is not responsible for these provocations
– he said.
In his opinion, “The police acted with extreme restraint and were attacked by some of the demonstrators with paving stones.”
Everyone saw it. We have appropriate material that will certainly help to hold these people accountable
– Tusk announced.
Tusk’s words and reality
However, Tusk’s words are contradicted by recordings, photos and reports from protest participants and observers.
As we can see from the recordings shared on social media, one of the police officers threw an unspecified object at the protesters. Other police officers beat down one of the farmers, who was holding a red and white flag. Arrests took place, some protesters required assistance from paramedics.
READ MORE: This is Tusk’s “smiling Poland”! The police were sent against the farmers. Online outrage: “Coalition of December 13. “The name obliges”
One of the participants of the demonstration also told a reporter from Telewizja wPolska about the course of the disturbing events.
The crowd that gathered here felt the tear gas and (…) this caused such an increase in emotions that the paving stones fell. Then the police also used force, pulling people out of the crowd and chasing them away from us
– he said.
READ MORE: ONLY FROM US. Farmers’ protest in the eye of the camera in Poland! ‘Calm until the demonstrators reached the Sejm area’
Confederation MP Sławomir Mentzen also reported on the X website that the police used gas against him. The incident took place in front of the Sejm. “If you start like this, I don’t want to know what will happen in a few years,” he said from the parliamentary podium about Wednesday’s events.
READ MORE: Sławomir Mentzen gassed by police! “It reminds me of the time when police provocateurs broke up the Independence March.”
The events of the protest were also summarized in one place by Law and Justice. The spot was presented as “a quick response to Tusk’s hypocrisy.” “Aggression, violence, all under the watchful eye of a smiling coalition… This is how farmers and foresters were treated yesterday. Who will be next?” – we read in the description.
READ MORE: Strong PiS spot! This is a response to Donald Tusk’s hypocrisy. “This is how farmers were treated yesterday. Who will be next?”
wPolityce/PAP/kot
Source: wPolityce