Warsaw [Poland], June 5: Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated against the ruling conservative nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS) in central warsaw on Sunday in response to a call from former Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The demonstrators carried placards reading "Europe, we apologize for the PiS" and "PiS into the pissoir."
While the organizers claimed that half a million people joined the rally, the PAP news agency put the figure at between 100,000 and 150,000, based on unofficial police figures.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former head of the Solidarity trade union Lech Walesa was among the demonstrators.
The call from Tusk, leader of the liberal-conservative Civic Platform (PO), was supported by other opposition parties.
"No, democracy will not die in Poland. There will be no return to calm. We will shout loudly," Tusk said.
The march marked the day in 1989 when the first partially free elections were held on June 4, which were seen as a victory by the pro-democracy movement and Solidarity and put an end to communist rule.
The protest was also aimed at a new law installing a commission of inquiry to investigate office-holders who acted in Russian interests and harmed Polish security over the years 2007 to 2022.
Critics have alleged that it is aimed at opposition politicians, such as Tusk, who was prime minister between 2007 and 2014. The PiS government has accused him of taking decisions that harmed the country's security.
The law has been criticized by the European Union and the United States.
"We are here today, so that all of Poland, all of Europe, the whole world, can see how strong we are, how many of us are prepared to fight for freedom, and democracy, as 30 and 40 years ago," Tusk told the crowd.
Source: Qatar Tribune