More than 15,000 Poles took part in rival demonstrations in the capital Warsaw today over whether the ruling conservatives, who are struggling to form a coalition, should call a snap election.
Supporters of the biggest opposition party, the centre-right Civic Platform, called on the government to dissolve parliament after the conservatives ditched their leftist coalition partners last month in a row over the 2007 budget.
"We are here to say loud what Poland feels ... We are here to say it is enough," Donald Tusk, the leader of the Civic Platform, told a crowd of more than 10,000 people gathered at what organisers called the "Blue March".
"We want early elections now," their banners read.
Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski is also under pressure after his top aide was caught on film asking an opposition MP what she wanted in return for switching sides, hinting at possible financial arrangements.
At a rival rally, 6,000 supporters of the prime minister and his twin brother Lech Kaczynski, the president, held banners reading "Solidarity in Poland".
Prime Minister Kaczynski is due to appear later today.
Opinion polls show more than 60 per cent of Poles believe elections should be held and, according to most surveys, the Civic Platform would win.
Law and Justice came to power in September 2005 on a promise to weed out corruption and instigate a "moral revolution" after a string of scandals during the previous leftist rule.
But its alliance with two populist fringe parties has disappointed many Poles. The leftist Self-Defence party quit the coalition last month and the conservatives have failed to form a new majority.
Around seven other rallies were held in Warsaw. Local elections are due in November.
Analysts believe the political deadlock could prevent Poland, the biggest ex-communist European Union member, from pushing through economic reforms that are crucial if it is to catch up with richer western EU countries.