Protests Cause Unrest Across Poland

Megan Brown 6 December 2021

Image courtesy of BBC

Content Warning: This Article Discusses Anti-Semitism

In recent months, Poland has seen a series of protests and civil unrest. Anti-vaccine protests, the healthcare workers’ protests, and rising political tensions have caused unrest and feelings of resentment towards the current climate, and the measures the government enforces.

Poland has experienced protests since mid-July, with western Polish town Głogów seeing anti-vaccine protests along with anti-Semitic rhetoric being spread throughout the event. The crowd was reported as chanting, “Every Pole can see today that behind the ‘plandemic’ are the Jews” This came after several members of the crowd implied that Covid-19 was a creation to aid in the Jewish Agenda, sparking anti-Semitism throughout the crowd.

Poland saw a resurgence of protests and civil unrest from September onward. The 11 September saw 30,000 medical staff protesting the lack of funding and neglect of the Polish healthcare system and demanded better pay for all medical professionals, who have been severely overstretched during the pandemic.

The Residents Union, a union fighting for better conditions for medical staff, claims that some ambulance workers can work up to 500 hours a month.

Further information from The Residents Union states that in August 2021, a 39-year-old anaesthesiologist from Walbrzych died, with coroners looking into whether overwork was the cause of death and, ultimately, a by-product of extreme working conditions.

This protest accompanies concerns of a fourth wave of Covid-19 from medical professionals, venting their frustrations of lack of support and funding to the government and alerting that the Polish healthcare system cannot withstand the strain much longer.

Nurses protesting poor working conditions, being understaffed and underpaid. Image courtesy of BIRN

On 24 September, protest groups warned of an upcoming health care crisis, with accounts from doctors, nurses and custodial staff showing just how overworked and under-supported these staff are.

Nurse Alicja Krakowiecka, from southern city Czestochowa, is quoted by Associated Press as saying, her hospital is understaffed to the extent she had to work a 24-hour shift after the night nurse called in sick. Miss Krakowiecka was ultimately left with 30 patients in her care and was asked to return the next evening, instead of giving her two days off.

Nurse and spokesman for the movement, Gilbert Kolbe, states: ‘the pandemic showed us how bad the health care system is.’

He continued: “This is the last chance to do something before it will be too late. We won’t be able to avert a crisis coming in five, ten years.”

The Polish healthcare system has always been neglected by the government, regardless of their political leaning, Alternative Press claims. But the Coronavirus pandemic has only aided in stretching an already straining institution to its breaking point.

On 11 November, Polish Independence Day, saw several thousand members of far-right groups storming Warsaw, chanting anti-immigrant rhetoric, brandishing far-right slogans and flags encouraging stronger borders. The annual Independence Day had been banned this year by the court but went ahead regardless.

The march was partially overlooked as tensions continue to rise with the Polish-Belarusian border. The border has seen the attempted crossing of thousands of immigrants, many fleeing from the Middle East, into the European Union to claim asylum. The situation of thousands of migrants camping at the border with no food and in plummeting temperatures has created concerns within the European Union.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to halt all gas deliveries into Europe if any sanctions are imposed because of the ongoing crisis at the border. In a statement, Lukashenko states “We are heating Europe, and they are threatening us” he continues, “And what if we halt natural gas supplies? Therefore, I would recommend the leadership of Poland, Lithuanians and other empty-headed people to think before speaking."

According to journalist Andrew Roth, “Polish authorities have taken a hard-line stance on the crisis, instituting a state of emergency in the border region that allows police to ignore asylum requests and summarily expel migrants,” which is only exacerbating the situation and creating more cause for concern.

One banner that was seen being held by a protester read “we thank the defenders of Poland’s borders”, with others showing their support for the event on social media.

Maciej Wasik, the Deputy Interior Minister, tweeted “will go directly from Warsaw to defend our border with Belarus. When marching, remember this!” encouraging those marching to show support for Polish border security.

The leader of the march, Robert Bakiewicz, encourages Wasik’s message, stating to his supporters “You know, dear ones, that we meet in an exceptional situation. This march is unique, unlike any other. Today there are not only internal disputes, today there are also external disputes,” he said. “Today there is an attack on the Polish border.”

The situation at the Poland-Belarussian border is ongoing, with neither country allowing migrants across their borders and subjecting the individuals to abuses of human rights. The only help offered by Belarus is sending asylum seekers back to their home countries.