This Tuesday will see another Independence March. On this occasion, it is worth recalling what happened around this event during the eight years of Law and Justice (PiS) rule. From Civic Platform (PO) and its affiliated media, we witnessed a years-long propaganda operation built on the most idiotic and ostentatious lies. Its goal was to denounce Poland abroad, destroy our country’s international standing, and portray Poles as Nazis – all while supporting Kremlin propaganda directed against Poland. Unfortunately, this situation may repeat itself.
Of course, the narrative portraying the Independence March as a gathering full of hatred and fascism is still alive and well. Even now, various media hitmen serving the current government are preparing the ground for an attack on this demonstration with stories about a pogrom-like atmosphere in Poland and foreigners supposedly afraid to walk the streets of Polish cities. Yet, in recent years, the March has proven far more peaceful and civilized than an average rally of Strong Together fanatics.
He hid in the bathroom
There are many indications that Tusk, his party, and their obedient media may decide, after a two-year break, to return to the hate campaign described above. That’s why it is worth recalling that earlier nonsense – to properly prepare for another wave of propaganda from the current authorities.
The torrent of insults, nonsense, stupidity, and fake news that every November 11 poured from Polish media serving Civic Platform and Tusk during the PiS years was staggering. Let’s recall a few of their greatest “achievements.” One particularly absurd example was the “shocking story” of a certain Sam Rubin, of Jewish origin, who, fearing for his life on November 11, supposedly hid in his bathroom and did not leave all day.
Importantly, Sam sold his “revelations” to foreign media, which immediately picked up the story about Jews hiding from Poles organizing pogroms. While the bathroom anecdote was particularly grotesque, its substance matched many other reports from Polish “liberal” (read: Civic Platform-aligned) media and circles about the Independence March. No one cared what the event actually looked like. Instead, it became an excuse for hysterical stories about hatred, Nazism, racism, and violence. The March was portrayed as proof that the Cassandra-like prophecies about the end of democracy and a “far-right coup” were coming true. Anyone who attended was automatically branded a Hitler admirer.
The March also became another tool of Smiling Poland’s trademark division of Poles. In Civic Platform’s media, we witnessed a festival of absurd, manipulated contrasts: on one side, “dark and evil Poland,” a land of dangerous troglodytes; on the other, noble, tolerant, and progressive youth, women, and idealists who – despite their fear – heroically opposed the fascist hordes and organized counter-protests. As always in the case of Civic Platform’s narrative, this primitive Manichaeism was both childish and simply stupid.
Side by side with the Kremlin
It’s worth noting that, due to the absence of police provocations, the Independence March during most of PiS’s rule was incomparably calmer than in earlier years. Yet this in no way disrupted the ongoing narrative of a “Nazi-fascist Poland raising its head.” Tusk’s media mercenaries from Krytyka Polityczna or Gazeta Wyborcza even argued that a peaceful, family-oriented March was more dangerous precisely because it had a greater social impact.
Such an article was written, among others, by Witkowski, once a contributor to the pro-Putin website Strajk and an author whose texts appeared on Kremlin outlet Sputnik. Looking back, it’s clear he was rewarded for his propaganda work – today he builds a career in Civic Platform’s institutions as an “expert,” naturally, on Russian influence.
The main goal of this propaganda operation by Civic Platform and its media, however, was the international arena. For eight years, every Independence March was presented as conclusive evidence that PiS-ruled Poland was a land of terror, Nazism, anti-Semitism, and dictatorship – supported by police forces. That it was, in essence, a fascist regime.
These absurdities were spread not only by the Western press but also by Russian and even Arab media. Crucially, in many cases, these shocking “reports from fascist Poland” were written by journalists from Civic Platform’s own outlets or their colleagues.
This defamation campaign targeted not only participants of the Independence March or the Polish government but ordinary Poles as well. Its goal was to depict our nation as a mob of troglodytes and racists – dangerous anti-Semites thirsty for blood and authoritarian rule. It wasn’t just Poland that was to appear fascist, but Poles themselves.
This narrative took root and surfaced in nearly every major European debate – especially in subsequent Civic Platform-backed resolutions calling for sanctions against Poland. It also became part of Kremlin propaganda about the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border (a topic handled by Gonzalez, a.k.a. Rubcow). In that propaganda, Poles were portrayed as a nation of racists committing genocide at the frontier. Thus, through stories about the “Nazis of November 11,” Civic Platform and Putin’s propaganda essentially delivered the same message.
History repeating?
The Independence March will take place only on Tuesday, so we can only speculate about the atmosphere. Unfortunately, there are many signs that provocations similar to those seen during Tusk’s previous government may occur.
First, the actions of Kierwiński and the issue of the supposed illegality of flares are very concerning (note that at Civic Platform rallies they are symbols of freedom, while at patriotic demonstrations they suddenly become dangerous pyrotechnics). Second, the government’s actions so far suggest it seeks to intensify social tension and escalate internal conflict. The case of Ziobro and the overturning of sentences for the worst criminals show that their goal is maximum chaos, turmoil, and polarization.
In this context, a riot during the March may well serve their interests. It would provide a perfect excuse for draconian measures and further violations of the law. The story of “fascists trying to overthrow the Smiling Government” could also be useful for Tusk and Żurek when explaining their actions abroad.
One thing is certain – this government knew how to stage provocations (as shown by the infamous Russian Embassy booth incident) and still does (as in the farmers’ protests early in its term, where undercover police threw stones at uniformed officers).
That’s why it’s especially important to appeal to participants of the March to remain calm – not to take the bait and not to make things easier for the Smiling Government. The sad truth, however, is that if Tusk decides to provoke unrest, he will stage riots regardless of how peaceful the demonstrators remain. Let’s hope the authorities will fear the scale of the event and refrain from escalating violence or staging provocations like those before 2015. Yet the very fact that we must be prepared for them shows just how troubled our Poland is today.