Poland's parliament was set to debate and vote on a controversial media law on Wednesday that places the country at odds with one of its most important allies, the US, Deutsche Welle reports today.

The controversial bill forbids non-European-Union citizens and companies from possessing a controlling stake in Polish media outlets. It was introduced last month and is seen as a key test of media freedom and democracy in Poland.

While the government cites the risk of hostile foreign powers such as Russia and China grabbing an ownership stake in Polish media, the target of the law appears to be US-owned TVN, which operates the news channel TVN24 and has Discovery Inc. as its parent company.

Across Poland Tuesday, protesters turned out in support of TVN and against the law to calls of "free media!"

Ahead of the vote, the ruling right-wing Law and Justice Party lost its parliamentary majority.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki dismissed Jaroslaw Gowin, the head of the smaller Agreement Party in the coalition who opposes the bill, from the government. On Wednesday, Gowin said his party was formally leaving the coalition, meaning Law and Justice lost its razor thin parliamentary majority.

Also on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister of Development, Labor and Technology Iwona Michalek and Andrzej Gut-Mostowy resigned, Radio Zet News reports. Shortly after, Wojciech Murdzek, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science, announced his resignation according to TVN24.

Government spokesman Piotr Muller told public broadcaster Polskie Radio 1, "the media law will gain a majority in parliament and I am sure that the United Right government will continue to function."

The National Broadcasting Council in Poland has yet to renew the broadcast license for TVN24. Its current license is set to expire next month.

While the ruling Law and Justice Party has long sought to nationalize media under the pretext of national security, critics charge the bill is much more about message control and bringing critics in line.

The government argues the law would update Polish law to be on par with other countries in Europe such as France and Germany, in limiting foreign ownership in media companies but Poland's reputation for media freedom and as a place for foreign direct investment are on the line.