Polish opposition lawmakers said Friday they would continue to occupy parliament through Christmas and New Year's in protest against what they called the government's anti-democratic actions. "It's a symbolic and sad protest, a first for Poland's parliament," Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, a lawmaker from the liberal Nowoczesna opposition party, told AFP.
"We plan to stay until at least January 11, when there's a new session of parliament scheduled," added Marcin Kierwinski, a lawmaker from the centrist Civic Platform (PO) opposition party. The lawmakers launched their sit-in last week, while thousands of demonstrators marched outside, after the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party announced plans to restrict journalists' right to cover legislative proceedings. Parliament then held a vote on next year's budget in another part of the building because of the opposition take-over of the main chamber.