20,000 Poles demonstrate on the streets of Warsaw
{{date|October 7, 2006}}
[[Image:Platforma Obywatelska Blue March, Old Town, Warsaw, 7 Oct 2006.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[w:Platforma Obywatelska|Platforma Obywatelska]] gathered the most supporters, demanding new parliamentary elections.]]
No fewer than three major political demonstrations took place in [[w:Warsaw|Warsaw]], the capital of [[Poland]] on Saturday, October 7. In total, more than 20,000 people flooded the streets and squares of the city to express either their dissatisfaction with or support for [[w:Jarosław Kaczyński|Jarosław Kaczyński's]] government, marred by a [[w:political corruption|political corruption scandal]] and inability to form stable parliamentary majority.

The leading opposition party, [[w:Platforma Obywatelska|Platforma Obywatelska]], organized the ''"Blue March"''. According to the police, the march through Warsaw's historic part gathered the most people, about 11,000, who demanded new elections and expressed their discontent with the current government. Polls show over 60% of Poles want early elections, and Platforma is currently in the lead by a sizeable majority.

In response to that, Kaczyński's [[w:Prawo i Sprawiedliwość|Prawo i Sprawiedliwość]] held a gathering of 8,000 government supporters in front of the [[w:socrealism|socrealist]] landmark [[w:Palace of Culture and Science|Palace of Culture and Science]] in the very centre of Warsaw. 

The third demonstration, much smaller in size, was held by junior government coalition partner, the far-right Christian conservative [[w:Liga Polskich Rodzin|Liga Polskich Rodzin]]. According to the police about 2,000 people marched through the streets of Warsaw.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-10-07T185914Z_01_L0760431_RTRUKOC_0_US-POLAND-PROTESTS.xml&WTmodLoc=IntNewsHome_C2_worldNews-8
|title=Thousands in rival rallies over Polish crisis
|author=Rob Strybel
|pub=Reuters
|date=October 7, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5416508.stm
|title=Secret film sparks Polish scandal
|author=Adam Easton
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=October 7, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6132812,00.html
|title=Thousands Call for Polish Gov't Ouster
|author=Vanessa Gera (Associated Press), Ryan Lucas contributed 
|pub=Guardian Unlimited
|date=October 7, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,59914,wid,8541388,wiadomosc.html
|title=Manifestacje w Warszawie przebiegły spokojnie
|author=[[w:Polska Agencja Prasowa|PAP]]
|pub=Wirtualna Polska 
|date=October 7, 2006}}

{{publish}}
{{Archived}}
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Poland]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Law and Justice Party]]
[[Category:Warsaw]]
[[Category:Jarosław Kaczyński]]

[[pl:Wiece polityczne w Warszawie]]
Platforma Obywatelska gathered the most supporters, demanding new parliamentary elections.
No fewer than three major political demonstrations took place in Warsaw, the capital of Poland on Saturday, October 7. In total, more than 20,000 people flooded the streets and squares of the city to express either their dissatisfaction with or support for Jarosław Kaczyński's government, marred by a political corruption scandal and inability to form stable parliamentary majority.

The leading opposition party, Platforma Obywatelska, organized the "Blue March". According to the police, the march through Warsaw's historic part gathered the most people, about 11,000, who demanded new elections and expressed their discontent with the current government. Polls show over 60% of Poles want early elections, and Platforma is currently in the lead by a sizeable majority.

In response to that, Kaczyński's Prawo i Sprawiedliwość held a gathering of 8,000 government supporters in front of the socrealist landmark Palace of Culture and Science in the very centre of Warsaw. 

The third demonstration, much smaller in size, was held by junior government coalition partner, the far-right Christian conservative Liga Polskich Rodzin. According to the police about 2,000 people marched through the streets of Warsaw.

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Politics and conflicts Poland Europe Law and Justice Party Warsaw Jarosław Kaczyński