Many people also took part in protests in Krakow and other cities in the country, expressing their frustration that the government of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party is undermining democratic norms and that Poland may follow Hungary and Turkey down the path of autocracy.
In Warsaw, protesters cheered on the stage for former president Lech Walesa and the leader of the opposition liberal Civic Platform party, former prime minister and European Council president Donald Tusk, who had called on people to march for the country’s future.
Marchers chanted “Democracy!” and “Constitution!” and also carried posters “No – to authoritarian Poland!”, “Europe, we apologize for PiS” and “PiS – in the urinal!”
Parliamentary elections are expected in Poland in autumn.
Critics say that by increasing its influence in the judiciary and the media, the government is undermining democracy.
