Thousands of people protested in Poland as a result of a new legislative amendment

With the signature of the Polish President, the law entered into force with immediate effect.

The EU, human rights organizations and Polish opposition parties have criticized the government in place, Law and Justice, PiS. They believe that this amendment, as well as several others, hampers the independence of the judiciary and democracy in the country, writes The Guardian.

Outside the presidential palace in the Polish capital Warsaw, a major demonstration took place on Thursday. The protesters shouted "shame", "you will be put in jail" and "break the pen".

Several also waved pencils in the air, referring to the president's willingness to sign new laws.

In about 24 cities across the country, similar protests took place in the capital.

According to PiS himself, a revision of the laws was necessary to make the country's courts more efficient and to eliminate the influence of the country's communist history.

Earlier in July 22 judges of the country's Supreme Court were forced to withdraw prematurely. Chief Justice Malgorzara Gersdorf has since refused to resign and stressed that her constitutional mandate would not expire until 2020.

The most recent amendment, passed by the House earlier this week, facilitated the replacement of the head of the Supreme Court prematurely.

Since PiS took power in Poland in 2015, dozens of judges have been removed from the country's constitutional court, the national court and now the Supreme Court.

The new appointments greater influence over the courts and the government more control over judges.

The European Commission has conducted a major investigation into whether the rule of law is respected in Poland and has opened several legal proceedings against the country. Some of these issues concern the Supreme Court.