●  Discrimination in Lublin

Far-right politicians have ignited a political scandal in Lublin over African students after Krzysztof Bosak, co-leader of the Confederation party and deputy speaker of parliament, criticized promotional videos for the "Africa Day" festival on X. He questioned why residents elect authorities that "settle foreigners" in the city, prompting heated debate involving the Confederation and the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, who accused city administrators and universities of encouraging mass immigration from Africa through foreign student programs. A Civic Coalition deputy, Michał Krawczyk, defended the authorities and accused the far right of "incitement" and building a wall of hatred.

At a joint press conference, local officials and university rectors argued that the high share of international students is the result of a long-term strategy bringing the region prestige and significant income — foreign students contribute nearly 480 million złoty annually, with African students alone accounting for about 35 million złoty in tuition and 50 million in rent. Officials also pushed back on claims of a "mass influx," citing statistics that of 60,000 students in Lublin, only 8,300 are foreigners from over 100 countries, with roughly 2,000 from Africa — about 3.5% of all students and under 1% of the city's population. The "Africa Days" festival, held May 29-30, featured concerts, parades, and cultural events, culminating in a colorful parade of African flags.