Law and Justice Leader’s Krakow Visit and the Wawel Demonstration
Law and Justice president Jarosław Kaczyński traveled to Krakow on Thursday to pay respects at Wawel Cathedral for his brother Lech and his wife, who died in the Smolensk catastrophe. At the same time, a protest supporting Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik gathered near Wawel, with some activists eventually moving toward the German consulate. The crowd cried out, and some voices called for political figures to be taken to Berlin.
The PiS leader’s stop at Wawel was confirmed by two independent sources. It is noted that the president of PiS visits Krakow nearly every eighteenth day of the month to lay flowers and prayerfully reflect at the sarcophagus of Lech and Maria Kaczyński.
“We demand their release.”
During Thursday’s events, roughly 200 opponents of the current ruling coalition gathered in solidarity, waving white and red flags along with banners signaling support for national independence. The participants chanted lines such as “This is Poland, not Brussels,” “This is an independent Poland,” and “Tusk to prison.” Several speakers voiced calls for the release of Kamiński and Wąsik.
The gathering framed itself as a demonstration in defense of political prisoners, with organizers stating a clear demand for the men’s freedom. A veteran opposition figure and longtime Solidarity activist, Ryszard Majdzik, led the crowd and outlined the protest’s political purpose. The message echoed through the crowd as one participant used a megaphone to urge attendees to search for detention center addresses on the Internet and to send encouragement cards to the imprisoned officials.
One speaker emphasized the idea that the movement stands with those detained, stressing the importance of public visibility and support for their case.
“Take Tusk to Berlin.”
From the vicinity of Wawel, the demonstration proceeded along Stolarska Street toward the American and German consulates, seeking to spotlight the Kamiński and Wąsik matter. Among the attendees was Barbara Nowak, a former Malopolska education inspector, who joined the protest as a symbolic figure of support from regional public service circles.
The crowd’s chant shifted toward broader political headlines, with the line “Bring Tusk to Berlin” echoing at the German consulate, accompanied by calls for reparations and other grievances directed at both domestic and international audiences.
In the broader social memory, the event was perceived as part of ongoing debates about accountability, national sovereignty, and the way political disputes spill onto the streets. The day’s scenes reflected a highly polarized landscape where public demonstrations are closely tied to struggles over leadership, policy direction, and the fate of imprisoned officials. Observers noted the juxtaposition of religiously framed tribute at Wawel with a street-level protest that aimed to signal a different set of political loyalties and demands.
Participants and onlookers alike described the day as a moment of heightened public discourse, where memorial acts intersected with contemporary political mobilization. The events underscored how historical memory, leadership disputes, and calls for political justice can converge in a single city square and then radiate outward to international forums and diplomatic enclaves.
Witnesses and commentators offered varied interpretations, recognizing the symbolism of the Wawel site and the power of street demonstrations to influence the national conversation. The day’s narrative was shaped by voices from different sides, each presenting a distinct reading of the same events and their implications for Poland’s political trajectory.
As the afternoon wore on, organizers and participants reflected on the role of public protest in democratic society, arguing that peaceful demonstrations remain a vital channel for political expression and citizen involvement. The episode, reported by a range of outlets, highlighted the ongoing tension between ruling parties and opposition factions in Poland’s political landscape.
Source documentation and media coverage of the day’s events underscore the complexity of public sentiment, the persistence of historical memory in contemporary politics, and the enduring question of how to balance national interests with international expectations. The Krakow gathering exemplified how a single city can become a focal point for dialogue, contention, and the pursuit of a political course that resonates beyond its borders. The interplay between commemoration and protest continues to shape the broader narrative about leadership, accountability, and the rights of political actors in Poland.