In a public display of political tension, members of the ruling party voiced a message focused on democracy, unity, and media freedom. A senior PiS member addressed supporters gathered outside the Polish Press Agency headquarters, urging participation in a planned January protest near the Sejm. Additional PiS lawmakers joined the gathering and prepared to stay overnight at the PAP site. The attendees included Michał Dworczyk, Ryszard Czarnecki, Elżbieta Rafalska, Filip Kaczyński, and Paweł Głosernaker, who were present to show solidarity and to fulfill duties through the night.
That evening, several people who supported PiS politicians who had remained inside the PAP building for days formed a crowd outside the agency’s headquarters. The demonstration originated from the TVP Info building at Powstańców Warszawy Square, where earlier activity had also taken place. The protest in front of PAP lasted about half an hour before the participants dispersed; roughly a dozen demonstrators stood before the agency and many carried white and red flags. The crowd sang national slogans and Christmas carols directed at the agency’s journalists.
PiS MP Piotr Gliński moved through the group to acknowledge the picketers and express appreciation for their presence. He noted that even modest acts of mobilization can grow into larger movements, stressing the importance of public participation in the political process.
The politician invited the demonstrators to join a larger protest planned in front of the Sejm on January 11, 2024. He spoke of defending democracy, safeguarding freedom, and protecting free media as core goals of the gathering.
Gliński reiterated the message of the campaign, thanking supporters and stating that democracy should be defended without spreading hatred. He affirmed the group’s guiding principles: love, democracy, and freedom.
Protest on January 11
A spokesperson for PiS, Rafał Bochenek, announced that a rally named the “Protest of the Free Poles” would be staged in front of the Sejm on January 11. The event was framed as a demonstration in support of democratic institutions and media liberty, with organizers pitching the gathering as a peaceful expression of public sentiment.
The notice to attendees came alongside other updates and commentary from frequent commentators in the Polish political landscape. Coverage from various outlets highlighted the ongoing mobilization and the perceived stakes surrounding the media and parliament.
The event and its messaging were discussed in the context of broader political debates within the country, with emphasis placed on civic participation and orderly protest as mechanisms for democratic engagement.
Source materials and coverage were attributed to multiple sources within Poland’s media ecosystem, reflecting a network of opinions and official statements surrounding the actions in question.