Latest news with #KrzysztofBosak
Euronews
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Anti-immigration demonstrations in more than 80 cities across Poland
Anti-immigration protests organised by the far-right Confederation Libery and Independence party took place in more than 80 cities across Poland, including in Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw, and Bialystok. Demonstrators demanded the closure of the borders with Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia. "Enough of the years-long policy of 'let everyone in, and who they are will be determined later'," Krzysztof Bosak, one of Confederation party's leaders, wrote on X. "Polish women and men have the right to be concerned about the level of security in their own homeland," he added. In a speech at the start of the march, Bosak demanded the resignation of Donald Tusk's government, the closure of the borders with Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia to curb illegal immigration, and the permission for soldiers to shoot at people who cross the border illegally. "Without closing Poland to illegal immigration, without launching a deportation operation, without renouncing political correctness, without equipping the Border Guard and the forces responsible for controlling the legality of residence, and without controlling the labour market, security will gradually deteriorate," he said, calling for a change in policy. The protests come shortly after Poland introduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania, which came into effect on 7 July. On the Polish-German border, controls are in place at 52 places and on the Polish-Lithuanian border at 13. The issue of migration has been widely up for debate, and a contentious topic in Polish politics, particularly as the country has experienced a rise in immigration in recent years. In the first round of the presidential elections held in May, candidates of the far-right performed well, with Slawomir Mentzen of the Confederation Libery and Independence party and Grzegorz Braun of Confederation of the Polish Crown party coming in third and fourth, respectively. Many believe that both candidates' successes were due to their hardline stance on migration. Interior ministers agree on asylum rules On Friday, Poland and five other EU countries, agreed a set of targets for tightening asylum rules. During the meeting hosted by Germany's interior minister, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted that he was "pleased that Poland is carrying out border controls." Last year, Poland saw an increase in asylum applications due to the recurring crisis on its eastern border with Belarus, which has been ongoing since 2021. As a result, the Polish parliament passed a law temporarily suspending the right to apply for asylum for those who crossed the Belarusian border. Both Polish and European leaders have long accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of orchestrating the influx of migrants to destabilise the EU. On Saturday morning, the Ministry of Interior and Administration published statistics on the number of approvals issued for special protection for foreigners on X. "In 2024, we issued 40 per cent fewer approvals for special protection for foreigners than in 2021. This is the result of a better managed system, our operations at the border and more efficient procedures," the post read. "The government is pursuing a responsible and well-considered migration policy, taking care of the stability and security of citizens," it added. Counter demonstrations in many cities Counter-manifestations against the Confederation marches were also held in Warsaw, Katowice, Olsztyn and other cities on Saturday. Demonstrators carried banners with the slogans: "Accept the refugees, delete the fascists," "Action Democracy" and "We defend the right to asylum." "Everyone, regardless of their skin colour and origin, should feel comfortable not only in Poland, but also in Europe," Maria Książak of the International Humanitarian Initiative Foundation said during the demonstration.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Anti-immigration protests sweep Poland (VIDEOS)
Anti-immigration protests were held in around 80 Polish cities on Saturday, according to local media. The largest demonstration reportedly attracted around 3,000 people. The rallies were organized by a political alliance called the Confederation Liberty and Independence. The coalition of right-wing groups has taken a hardline stance against the EU and its immigration policy. Around 3,000 people took part in a protest in the southern Polish city of Katowice, public broadcaster TVP reported on Saturday, citing police sources. According to the channel, most of the protesters were men and many were from football fan clubs. Videos from the scene show protestors waving Polish flags and chanting anti-immigration slogans. Protest przeciwko masowej imigracji. Donald Tusk zjednoczył kibiców. Tak to dzisiaj wyglądało w Katowicach The demonstrators also held a large banner reading: 'Refugees NOT welcome.' 🇵🇱 Poland: 'Refugees not welcomed'Massive protest. About 80-100 cities all over Poland are put aside any Footbal rivalries & stand together against illegal immigration.'This is Poland, not Brussels, here we don't support immigration' Confederation co-chairman Krzysztof Bosak, speaking to a rally in Bialystok on Saturday, accused the EU and NATO ally Germany of sending migrants across the border into Poland. The Polish border patrol is too overworked and undermanned to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, he said. According to local news, some of the protests carried out minutes of silence in remembrance of a 24-year-old Polish woman who died after being stabbed in Torun last month. A 19-year-old Colombian national has been charged with murder. Anti-immigration sentiment in Poland has been on the rise lately. In recent weeks, local Polish community groups have begun to form so-called 'citizen patrols' to block the entry and return of migrants at the country's border, according to local media. Earlier this month, Warsaw reintroduced border controls with fellow EU members Germany and Lithuania, and deployed more troops to the areas to fight the flow of illegal immigration. Poland previously accused Berlin of 'dumping' thousands of migrants across the Polish border.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Anti-immigrant rallies staged across Poland
Anti‑immigration protests have taken place in dozens of towns and cities across Poland. Most demonstrations attracted several hundred people or fewer on Saturday - but police estimated that about 3,000 took part in the largest rally in the southern city of Katowice. The protests were organised by far-right political group Konfederacja, and another nationalist from Konfederacja and the opposition Law and Justice party have been warning about a flood of illegal migration in Poland - but official figures do not support their claims. "Without closing Poland to illegal immigration, without starting deportation campaigns, without abandoning political correctness... security will gradually deteriorate," Konfederacja co-chairman Krzysztof Bosak told the crowd in the eastern city of Bialystok.A minute's silence was held at some gatherings in memory of a 24-year-old Polish woman murdered in the central city of Torun. In the capital Warsaw, rival rallies took place just metres away. There were no reports of violence. Police have since arrested a Venezuelan man in the case. Right-wing politicians claim Poland is in danger of being flooded by illegal migrants. Immigration has increased over the last decade - but official figures show that migration is lower so far this year than in previous this month, Poland introduced checks on its borders with Germany and Lithuania after Berlin began turning away asylum seekers. Germany introduced its own controls on the Polish and Czech borders in March, Poland temporarily suspended the right of migrants arriving in the country via its border with Belarus to apply for asylum.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Anti-immigrantion demonstrations in more than 80 cities across Poland
Anti-immigration protests organised by the far-right Confederation Libery and Independence party took place in more than 80 cities across Poland, including in Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw, and Bialystok. Demonstrators demanded the closure of the borders with Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia. "Enough of the years-long policy of 'let everyone in, and who they are will be determined later'," Krzysztof Bosak, one of Confederation party's leaders, wrote on X. "Polish women and men have the right to be concerned about the level of security in their own homeland," he added. In a speech at the start of the march, Bosak demanded the resignation of Donald Tusk's government, the closure of the borders with Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia to curb illegal immigration, and the permission for soldiers to shoot at people who cross the border illegally. "Without closing Poland to illegal immigration, without launching a deportation operation, without renouncing political correctness, without equipping the Border Guard and the forces responsible for controlling the legality of residence, and without controlling the labour market, security will gradually deteriorate," he said, calling for a change in policy. The protests come shortly after Poland introduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania, which came into effect on 7 July. On the Polish-German border, controls are in place at 52 places and on the Polish-Lithuanian border at 13. The issue of migration has been widely up for debate, and a contentious topic in Polish politics, particularly as the country has experienced a rise in immigration in recent years. In the first round of the presidential elections held in May, candidates of the far-right performed well, with Slawomir Mentzen of the Confederation Libery and Independence party and Grzegorz Braun of Confederation of the Polish Crown party coming in third and fourth, respectively. Many believe that both candidates' successes were due to their hardline stance on migration. Interior ministers agree on asylum rules On Friday, Poland and five other EU countries, agreed a set of targets for tightening asylum rules. During the meeting hosted by Germany's interior minister, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted that he was "pleased that Poland is carrying out border controls." Last year, Poland saw an increase in asylum applications due to the recurring crisis on its eastern border with Belarus, which has been ongoing since 2021. As a result, the Polish parliament passed a law temporarily suspending the right to apply for asylum for those who crossed the Belarusian border. Both Polish and European leaders have long accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of orchestrating the influx of migrants to destabilise the EU. On Saturday morning, the Ministry of Interior and Administration published statistics on the number of approvals issued for special protection for foreigners on X. "In 2024, we issued 40 per cent fewer approvals for special protection for foreigners than in 2021. This is the result of a better managed system, our operations at the border and more efficient procedures," the post read. "The government is pursuing a responsible and well-considered migration policy, taking care of the stability and security of citizens," it added. Counter demonstrations in many cities Counter-manifestations against the Confederation marches were also held in Warsaw, Katowice, Olsztyn and other cities on Saturday. Demonstrators carried banners with the slogans: "Accept the refugees, delete the fascists," "Action Democracy" and "We defend the right to asylum." "Everyone, regardless of their skin colour and origin, should feel comfortable not only in Poland, but also in Europe," Maria Książak of the International Humanitarian Initiative Foundation said during the demonstration.
