In a dramatic show of political fervor, tens of thousands of people poured into the streets of Warsaw on Sunday, rallying for opposing candidates just days ahead of Poland’s high-stakes presidential runoff. The election, viewed by many as a pivotal moment for the country’s democratic trajectory, has seen rival camps mobilize en masse in a final effort to sway public opinion and energize their bases.

The liberal camp, led by Warsaw’s current mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, drew immense crowds waving Polish and European Union flags. Backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Trzaskowski has emerged as the symbol of a pro-European, democratic revival. "Poland is watching. Europe is watching. The world is watching," Trzaskowski declared, rallying a sea of supporters hopeful for a shift away from the nationalist governance of outgoing president Andrzej Duda, who had frequently clashed with Tusk’s reform agenda.

Tusk’s return to power in 2023, at the helm of a broad coalition of centrist and left-wing parties, was largely driven by promises to restore judicial independence and civil liberties that critics say eroded under the former Law and Justice government. However, Trzaskowski’s momentum appears to be wavering. Despite a narrow victory in the May 18 first-round vote, where he led by just two percentage points over nationalist contender Karol Nawrocki, polling shows a tightening race.

In a contrasting gathering elsewhere in Warsaw, Nawrocki’s supporters, many clad in nationalist symbols and pro-Trump memorabilia, held their own mass demonstration. They echoed themes of sovereignty, conservative values, and opposition to EU influence. "I represent all those whose voices are ignored by Donald Tusk," Nawrocki told a fired-up crowd. He promised to shield Polish institutions from ideological shifts and safeguard the country's traditional sectors like agriculture and education from what he calls “foreign interference.”

The nationalist rally carried banners reading slogans like “Stop the Migration Pact” and “This is Poland,” alongside portraits of Donald Trump, signaling alignment with the former U.S. president’s policies. “He’s the only one who can protect Polish independence,” said Jan Sulanowski, a 42-year-old attendee, emphasizing a fear among some voters of losing national identity under liberal leadership.

According to preliminary estimates cited by the Polish Press Agency, around 140,000 people attended the Trzaskowski-aligned march, while approximately 50,000 showed up in support of Nawrocki. The scale of both events underscored the deep polarization gripping Polish society. Notably, Romanian President Nicușor Dan, fresh from a surprising electoral win over a hard-right Trump supporter, joined Trzaskowski’s gathering, expressing a desire for stronger EU ties and coordinated efforts against Russian aggression.

For many like 21-year-old student Jakub Kaszycki, the election represents more than party politics—it is a choice between two futures. "I want Poland to walk toward Europe, not drift toward Russia," he said. Creative protest signs reflected the ideological clash: one group depicted the opposition as ‘Demonkraci’—a demonic version of democracy—while promoting Trzaskowski’s camp as the real defenders of democratic ideals through slogans like “DemOKracja.”