Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Warsaw on Thursday to protest against reforms, especially in the state media, adopted by the new pro-European administration in power, writes AFP.

A coalition led by former European Council President Donald Tusk ousted right-wing populists from the Law and Justice (PiS) party in October’s election.

In December, the new government fired the management of all public broadcasters it believed broadcast the propaganda of the previous populist and nationalist government.

“Poland’s freedom is at stake,” PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński told a crowd outside the parliament building in the center of the Polish capital.

He was joined on the podium by other PiS figures, including former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who called on his supporters to “protect Poland.”

“We should have seen a return to the rule of law, but what we see is anarchy,” Morawiecki said.

The demonstration began shortly after Poland’s conservative president announced the start of a pardon process for two former populist lawmakers, including a former interior minister, who were sentenced to two years in prison and jailed this week.

Two men, Mariusz Kaminski and Maciej Vasik, were detained by the police on Tuesday evening at the presidential palace, where they spent the day at the invitation of the head of state.

Their arrest caused a violent protest by the current opposition. The two camps exchange accusations of lawlessness.