Hundreds of Thousands Protest Against Government Across Poland

Independent website onet.pl used aerial images to calculate that at least 300,000 took to the streets. The centre of Warsaw was completely paralysed and protesters had to walk across the city to get to the meeting place on Sunday at noon.

Absolutely massive demo of the opposition in Warsaw today. Organisers claim half a million. Had to walk across the Vistula on food to get here, streets are overfilling. Opposition can thank PiS & LexTusk #marsz pic.twitter.com/laey0AnqAl

— Claudia Ciobanu (@Claudia_Warsaw) June 4, 2023

Leader of main opposition party Civic Platform Donald Tusk takes part in the '4th June March' in Warsaw, Poland, 04 June 2023. The opposition march, held on the 34th anniversary of the first partial-free elections in Poland, was to protest Polish government policies. EPA-EFE/Pawel Supernak

"I am tired of all our rights being broken in the last years," Marianna, a 43-year-old woman protesting in Warsaw, commented. "There is no justice, no free media, we don't have functional education or health."

A further boost for the protest was likely provided by PiS's recent attempt to create an extra-judicial commission to investigate Russian influence in decision-making since 2007, which the US State Department, the European Commission as well as domestic critics said was likely targeted at preventing opposition candidates from running in this autumn's parliamentary elections.

Leader of main opposition party Civic Platform Donald Tusk (C), former Polish President and leader of the Independent Polish Trade Union Solidarity Lech Walesa (5R), Mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski (4L) and supporters and members of opposition parties take part in the '4th June March' in Warsaw, Poland, 04 June 2023. EPA-EFE...