“Some of the Confederation’s politicians made very outrageous statements about the war in Ukraine and undermined the threat from Russia against Poland. I completely disagree with this, as I have said many times, criticizing attitudes like this […] We are seeing a sharp increase in Russian imperialist inclinations, as well as attempts to increase German hegemony in Europe, and that is why we are telling Poles that we must create a strong nation, and thus a great Poland – strong economically, and, above all, militarily and morally,” Robert Bąkiewicz, president of the March of Independence association, says in an interview with “Gazeta Polska Codziennie.”
We publish a fragment of the interview below.
The Supreme Court has recognized the March of Independence as a cyclical assembly. Does this mean that this year, finally, no one will try to stop the event?
We must be vigilant until the last moment. Rafal Trzaskowski or, before him, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz have always tried to prevent the organization of the march in some way. Leftist circles will certainly try to prevent us. From a legal point of view, however, it seems that we have already achieved everything, we have won at the Supreme Court. There were also attempts by such twisted, legally questionable Homokomando and other leftist organizations to fight the march, but we won with them in court as well. Therefore, from a legal point of view, we are protected. However, it is to be expected that there will be some provocations and attempts to obstruct the November 11 march.
As for provocations, which ones are you more worried about – leftist or pro-Russian?
I think both are possible. The Left is a certain extension of the actions that the Russian Federation is conducting against Poland. The provocations they organize will favour Russia, which probably expects the march to have overtones that favour their propaganda against our homeland and our society. I think the Germans – maybe not as a state, but as people who support their policies – will also have an interest in weakening Polish resistance to the Russian-German alliance and Russian aggression against Ukraine, which may prompt them to take provocative actions. We cannot allow this to happen.
Aren’t you concerned that there will be groups that will want to turn the Independence March into an anti-Ukrainian rally?
Such a threat obviously exists. However, I think that most patriots and nationalists are anti-Russian. Therefore, I think that even if there are attempts to smuggle such slogans, they will not play a significant role. The position of the majority of Poles towards Russia is obvious.
How do you look at the fact that there are pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian statements among the Polish right?
These people can be divided into two groups. Some believe that pro-Russian actions are positive for Poland, but this is a minority. In my opinion, the vast majority deliberately act as resonance boxes of Russian propaganda. This is the Russian spy network in Poland. There are also, of course, those who repeat certain slogans, having no idea about international politics. I have expressed my opinion on such views many times. I am very critical. It is worth recalling that some of the Confederation’s politicians made very outrageous statements about the war in Ukraine and undermined the threat from Russia against Poland. I completely disagree with this, as I have said many times, criticizing attitudes of this type.
The interview was published in the latest issue of “Gazeta Polska Codziennie.”
On November 11, 2022, as every year, the March of Independence will pass through the streets of Warsaw. This year, “Gazeta Polska” Clubs will have their sector in the march column. The club sector will be headed by Adam Borowski of the Warsaw “Gazeta Polska” Club.
“We will gather on November 11, at 1:30 p.m. near the Warsaw Downtown train station. Join us,” Tomasz Sakiewicz invites.