"We're opening up": More and more Poles are resisting the corona lockdown

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There are not yet an exorbitant number of shops, hotels, fitness studios or restaurants that ignore the government's corona protective measures and have reopened them on an interactive map in various Polish villages.

In Warsaw, for example, the “Burrito and Burger” restaurant, the “PiwPaw Parkingowa” bar or the “Molto Bene” pizzeria.

This is actually prohibited until January 31st.

The Polish version of "#WirMachenAuf" is called "OtwieraMY" and is a success.

“People have to work somehow, pay installments and rent.

And the restrictions are illegal.

I am glad that people finally came to their senses.

This is a machine that nothing can stop “, says the initiator of the movement, Michal Wojciechowski.

The government reacts.

Authorities monitor possible violations of the lockdown requirements even more closely.

But unlike in Germany, the Polish rebels have legal tailwind: the Opole Administrative Court ruled that a hairdresser was right who did not wear a mask at work during the first lockdown and received customers without permission - a fine was canceled by the court.

No disaster, no basis

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The judges claim that the government did not declare a disaster, which is why such far-reaching restrictions on civil rights are not constitutional.

They were only introduced by a government ordinance, without a legislative decision by parliament.

From the court's point of view, this is also not enough.

This gives many entrepreneurs hope: They want to allow possible fines and, if necessary, sue.

In Germany, however, the lockdown measures are limited in time by the Infection Protection Act.

"Theoretically, we have been closed for three months, without any state support, neither for me as an entrepreneur, nor for my employees," said fitness studio operator Monika Sapinska, explaining her motives to the RBB on Thursday.

In fact, a lot of companies in Poland miss out on state aid; a lot of special requirements have to be met.

In total, the government invested only 250 million euros in state money for this.

However, the Polish government is reluctant to declare a disaster, as it would then actually be obliged to make far higher compensation payments - a burden that the Polish budget could hardly bear.

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“This government can no longer be trusted.

Every entrepreneur in this country has to expect that he will lose his entire life's work from one day to the next due to ill-considered political decisions, ”explained Radoslaw Jecek, the mayor of the Karpacz winter sports resort, where various facilities have also reopened.

First of all, the entrepreneurs continue.

The corona numbers in Poland have been at a roughly constant level since the beginning of December, between 5,000 and 10,000 new infections are reported in the country every day, and the death rate is constant at around 400-500 per day.