Coffins of late president and first lady; photo - PAP

Demonstrations are planned in Krakow on the first anniversary of the burial of Poland’s president Lech Kaczynski and First Lady Maria in the Wawel cathedral in Krakow on 18 April.

One demonstration is being organized by the late president’s associates and Gazeta Polska, a weekly magazine which staunchly supports the conservative opposition Law and Justice party.

The organizers claim at least 1,000 participants will be at the protest but expect turnout to be much bigger.

A counter demonstration is planned by the “Citizens Wawel” association, which was against the decision to bury the presidential couple who died in the Smolensk air disaster last year at the site reserved for Poland’s monarchs and heroes.

“This grassroots, civic movement born a year ago, when a decision was announced to bury Lech Kaczynski in Wawel, wants to show that we have not forgotten about the cardinal mistake which was made then…”, says Agata Wantuch from Citizens Wawel.

The decision where to bury the president couple in Krakow became the first controversy in Poland during national mourning of the 96 who died in western Russia on 10 April last year.

The government was thought to favour Warsaw as President Kaczynski’s burial place, but the Kaczynski family chose Wawel cathedral in Krakow. (pg/kk)