Thousands Protest Anti-Immigration in Warsaw Ahead of Poland Election

Several thousand people gathered in Warsaw to protest against illegal immigration and the pro-European government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk ahead of Poland's presidential election on May 18. The demonstration, organized by the nationalist opposition, featured chants of 'no to immigration' and support for nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by the right-wing Law and Justice party and outgoing President Andrzej Duda, and currently polls second with around 25 percent support. The frontrunner is Rafal Trzaskowski, Warsaw's pro-European Mayor, supported by Tusk's Civic Coalition and polling at 32 percent. Immigration has become a central election issue amid Poland hosting around one million refugees from the war in Ukraine, with accusations that Russia and Belarus are orchestrating additional migrant waves into the EU. There is also a disinformation campaign accusing Trzaskowski of wanting to flood Poland with migrants in collusion with the EU. While initial support for Ukrainian refugees was high, public sentiment is shifting, and nationalist candidates capitalize on anti-immigration and anti-Ukrainian sentiments despite economists noting that migrant families have contributed to economic growth.