'Free media!': Thousands protest Polish media law

Thousands of people protested outside the Polish president's palace on Sunday against a new media law that critics say is aimed at silencing the country's main independent news channel.

Many protesters waved EU flags and chanted "Free media!" and "We want a veto!" -- asking President Andrzej Duda not to sign the bill into law.

"We need free speech," said one of the protesters, 38-year-old Emilia Zlotinska. "I would like the president not to sign it." 

Andrzej Lech, 71, who held up the Polish and EU flags, said the law was "not acceptable".

"It is my duty to be here... and in every case when our freedom will be in danger," he said.

Top journalists and opposition figures, including former EU chief Donald Tusk, addressed the crowd, which was illuminated by Christmas lights.

"We are here today in defense of free media. When we stand together in solidarity, we will win. We will sweep away this government together," said Tusk, who now leads the Civic Platform party.

There were similar protests across Poland.

The bill sought by the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party government was passed by parliament in a surprise vote on Friday.

The law would prevent companies from outside the European Economic Area from holding a controlling stake in Polish media companies.

That would force US group Discovery to sell its majority stake in TVN, one of Poland's biggest private TV networks. TVN24 is its news channel.