Farmers in Bydgoszcz protest at the voivodeship office and clashes with police
An announcement from Michał Sztybel, the voivode of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region, discussed events tied to a peasant demonstration in front of the voivodeship office. The report described demonstrators entering the building and a local government official aligned with Civic Platform accusing PiS of political manipulation of the protest.
Disruption occurred while the First Vice-Voivode, Piotr Hemmerling, was determining the composition of the invited delegation for substantive talks inside the office. A provocateur shouted that the voivode invited everyone, prompting the crowd to move toward the door and several individuals to push against police while the entry was attempted.
Sztybel noted that police would provide full details and a complete recording from inside the building. He also commented on the use of pepper spray by police during the attack, which injured a journalist from Radio PiK of Poland who was nearby. The voivode stated that he had spoken with the journalist, expressed regret, and offered medical assistance if needed, though it was later found unnecessary. He added that pepper spray use must be justified and that officers would be informed of the reasons for such action.
From the morning, Hemmerling remained available to the demonstrators as the situation evolved. Sztybel added that he returned from a meeting with rural mayors and immediately invited the delegation of demonstrators to enter for talks. He emphasized that the protest, which raised significant concerns for the Polish countryside and drew many farmers, was unfortunately used by political forces. He separately criticized a representative of Law and Justice in the European Commission for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, as part of his broader accusation against the party.
Sztybel announced that the protesters’ demands had been forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Czesław Siekierski, in line with prior statements. The protest in front of the provincial office began in the morning and continued into the afternoon. It was largely peaceful for a long period, with Hemmerling approaching the farmers on several occasions.
Before a county meeting, demonstrators gathered in the courtyard in front of the county office and set tires and straw ablaze, lighting torches. Fire and thick smoke rose around the area, and police officers stationed on the steps guarding the entrance endured the strongest impact.
Police intervention and the sequence of events
As the delegation was invited to talks, a group of protesters stormed the office in an attempt to break in. Police intervened and used pepper spray as a response. The action was framed by the regional police press spokesperson as an illegal move that required direct measures for control. The force used was described as insufficient at times, and despite appeals to halt the actions, protesters did not stop. Pepper spray became the effective measure that led to the withdrawal of the crowd, according to officials in Bydgoszcz.
Reports quoted Monika Chlebicz, a junior inspector and a press spokesperson for the provincial police headquarters, describing the sequence of events and the necessity of the intervention. Following the talks and the provincial address, the demonstration tapered off and tractors began to move away from the streets. Hundreds of tractors arrived, occupying sections of Jagiellońska and Focha streets and temporarily closing the avenue to traffic during the late afternoon peak. The overall scene showed a tense but largely orderly protest that gradually dispersed as discussions continued.
These developments reflect the complex interaction between rural concerns, local governance, and political dynamics in the region. The events drew attention to the needs of farmers and the response by regional authorities, while raising questions about protest tactics and the use of force in crowd control. The situation was reported by regional outlets and covered as a developing news story in national media. (Source: wPolityce)