“Donald, you fool, the hooligans will topple your rule” – this slogan echoed across Poland years ago, not only in stadiums but also beyond. Football fans used it to express their opposition to the government and its actions targeting supporter communities. It seemed to have become a thing of the past, a relic of a previous era. But history has a way of repeating itself.
According to earlier media reports, the chant “Donald, you fool, the hooligans will topple your rule” was coined by “Staruch,” a well-known Legia Warsaw fan who paid a steep price for criticizing the government during the time of the Civic Platform–Polish People’s Party (PO-PSL) coalition in power.
Piotr Staruchowicz, known as “Staruch,” spent nine months in detention over alleged drug trafficking charges before being fully acquitted. The case, overseen by prosecutor Piotr Woźniak, was based on the testimony of a key witness who later proved to be unreliable. Today, Woźniak is once again involved in cases against opponents of Prime Minister Donald Tusk- time in connection with the Justice Fund scandal – as reported by Niezalezna.pl.
“Staruch” became a symbol of state repression, and the chant about Prime Minister Donald was shelved – but not forgotten. In recent days, many Poles have felt transported back 15 years. During protests in cities large and small, organized under the slogan “Stop Immigration!”, the chant “Donald, you fool” was once again being sung. One such performance was even broadcast live on TV Republika.
The streets of Polish cities are once again filled with the familiar melody that for years served as a symbol of public discontent. The song has returned in a new political context – now tied to illegal immigration – as an expression of frustration among parts of society toward the current government’s actions. Regardless of political views, one thing is certain: the streets have spoken once more, and that has always been a sign that society is not indifferent to the course of events.