Hundreds of thousands of protestors have converged in Warsaw for one of the greatest demonstrations in Poland since communism fell in 1989.

The majority of opposition parties have encouraged supporters to join the march against the nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Former Prime Minister Donald Tusk and former President Lech Walesa are among those attending.

The PiS has called the gathering a “march of hatred.”

According to the mayor’s office in Warsaw, half a million people attended the event, which took place on the 34th anniversary of Poland’s first largely democratic elections.

Many people traveled from all across the country to participate, and similar demonstrations were conducted in other Polish cities such as Krakow.

Protests were organized in response to a wide range of causes, including dissatisfaction with inflation, rising living costs, and women’s and LGBT rights.

Concerns have also been expressed over a new law that has been accused of damaging Poland’s democracy.

The measure, which has been criticized by the EU and the US, establishes a committee to probe disproportionate Russian influence in Polish politics and has the authority to bar persons from holding public office for ten years.

Poland’s investigation into ‘Russian interference’ enrages the EU.
The government denies undermining democracy, and President Andrzej Duda has suggested constitutional revisions to abolish these powers.

However, detractors argue that it may still be used against people, including Mr Tusk, the leader of Poland’s biggest opposition and the centrist Civic Platform (PO) party.