New protests erupt in Warsaw as political crisis deepens

Protesters show victory signs as Polish national flags wave behind during an anti-government demonstration, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. Opponents of the country's populist government are staging a new protest outside the presidential palace in an appeal to the head of state to protect the young democracy's constitutional order from a series of government steps they deem anti-democratic. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) Protesters show victory signs as Polish national flags wave behind during an anti-government demonstration, in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. Opponents of the country's populist government are staging a new protest outside the presidential palace in an appeal to the head of state to protect the young democracy's constitutional order from a series of government steps they deem anti-democratic. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

By Associated Press December 17, 2016 2 min read

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Opponents of Poland’s populist government protested outside the presidential palace Saturday, demanding that he protect the young democracy’s constitution from government steps they deem anti-democratic.

The protest came amid rising political tensions over ruling party policies under chairman Jaroslaw Kaczynski and follows a large spontaneous demonstration Friday outside parliament.

In reaction, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo was to make a televised address Saturday night.

The protests of the past two days erupted over a government plan to restrict the access of journalists to lawmakers in parliament.

“This conflict is entering a new, more aggressive phase,” said Szymon Roginski, a photographer who joined the protest with his two young sons. “Every day we hear news that makes us understand that we are further and further away from democracy. People have had enough.”