The rally, held under the slogan "We want to be SAFE", was organised by the Committee for the Defence of Democracy (KOD).
Protesters carried Polish and EU flags alongside banners criticising the president, with slogans such as "Enough of party games", "Nawrocki – traitor of Poland" and one accusing the veto of smelling of a "Russian sock".
Former Constitutional Tribunal president Jerzy Stępień also addressed the crowd, drawing parallels with the early years of Polish democracy.
In response to Nawrocki's decision, the government held an emergency session on Friday and passed a resolution allowing Poland to proceed with the Polska Zbrojna (Arming Poland) programme, bypassing the need for presidential approval.
The Polish pressident announced he would veto the bill implementing the bloc's funding scheme earlier this week, arguing that Poland should not take on debt through the EU.
Under the SAFE programme, Poland is set to receive nearly EUR 44 billion in low-interest loans for defence spending, with 89 percent intended for domestic arms companies.
Officials acknowledged the workaround means Poland will receive slightly less funding than originally planned.
The presidential veto and the government's response have dominated Polish political debate for several days.
(ał)
Source: IAR