Thousands of people marched through the streets of Warsaw this week to protest against the government in one of the biggest demonstrations since the fall of communism.

Organized by main opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), the Solidarity trade union and a host of other groups, protestors flocked to the event – dubbed ‘Wake Up Poland’ – to air a myriad of grievances held against the government. While estimated numbers vary, the organisers claim that approximately 100,000 people took part.

One of the main sources of anger were government plans to raise the retirement age for all people to 67 from 60 for women and 65 for men (Retirement age raise?). People were tired of “being told to tighten their belts” and that “now was the time for change”.

Another key rallying point was the decision of the broadcasting council to strip TV Trwam, a Catholic television station and sister station to the controversial and nationalistic Radio Maryja, of its broadcast license.

Thousands of Trwam defenders, organised by Radio Maryja, and supporters packed into Warsaw’s Plac Trzech Krzyży to sing, pray and voice their anger at a government they accused of trying to silence the Catholic media.

Poles were exploited by those who are able to manipulate, by those who do not recognise equality or any other rights. Democracy has become a sham and a fiction they do not want.

While the demonstration provided a rallying point for anybody angered by the government for any number of reasons, the scale of the event has drawn attention from politicians, the public and the media.

With the effects of the European economic crisis beginning to be felt in the Polish economy, the government is facing hardening opposition to economic reforms it claims are necessary for the good of the country.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)