Representatives were young people from all parts of the continent and key speakers included senior Polish politicians as well as several from other countries, notably Germany, Spain and, of course, the UK. Brexit certainly featured on the agenda and helped to shape all discussions but the main questions being asked were about the rule of law, liberal democracy, foreign policy and security, and implications flowing from decisions by the Trump Administration.

Polish lawmakers are returning to parliament after a holiday recess marked by an unprecedented political crisis – weeks of occupation of the parliament’s plenary hall by opposition lawmakers angry over moves by the conservative ruling Law and Justice party. Parliament was to open its session in the afternoon Wednesday with no compromise yet reached between the government and opposition.

Poland’s president met separately with opposition party leaders Sunday to help solve a political crisis, as anti-government protests were held for the third straight day. Political tension is rising between Poland’s conservative government and the pro-European Union opposition over the ruling party’s plan to restrict journalists’ access to lawmakers in parliament.

Poland’s president met separately with opposition party leaders Sunday to help solve a political crisis, as anti-government protests were held for the third straight day. Political tension is rising between Poland’s conservative government and the pro-European Union opposition over the ruling party’s plan to restrict journalists’ access to lawmakers in parliament.

Polish opposition leaders called for days of antigovernment demonstrations Saturday after police broke up an hours-long blockade of the Polish parliament by protesters who claim that ruling party lawmakers are violating the constitution. Several thousand people responded to that call in Warsaw and other cities.