Donald Tusk, Poland’s recently appointed Prime Minister, has been accused of “putting democracy and freedom in danger” with his “illegal media takeover” earlier this month.

The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament took aim at Mr Tusk – the former European Council President who retains close links with Brussels – in a strongly worded statement as the bitter political dispute continues to rumble on.

Mr Tusk, who heads up a coalition which ousted the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS) after October’s general election, was strongly criticised by, among others, former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage after taking TVP, Poland’s national broadcaster, off the air.

The ECR statement said: “The government led by Donald Tusk is implementing actions that Law and Justice (PiS) has been falsely accused of for years.

“In the last few years, Polish opposition representatives in the European Parliament have accused Poland’s United Right government of breaching the rule of law, the independence of the courts, and media freedom.”

“Both the European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, and the European Parliament “have accepted this narrative without deeper and honest analysis”, the ECR claimed, despite the fact that “with a minimum of goodwill one could have guessed, that it was a distorted picture of reality created for political purposes”.

PiS had used its parliamentary majority to fulfil its electoral promises within the law, the statement suggested, “at most taking advantage of legal loopholes and interpretations, as it is common in any democratic country and in the EU itself”.

The statement added: “There have been no trials in Poland that could substantiate allegations of politicisation of the judiciary, and there have been no political prisoners.

“Now it has changed – and democracy and freedom are in real danger. For those who look at the current situation in Poland with honesty and without ideological bias, it is evident that the goal of Donald Tusk and his political allies is not on upholding the rule of law, freedom of the media, or the independence of the courts, but rather of grasping and maintaining total power without real opposition, ideological diversity in the public sphere and silencing conservative voices.”

Since assuming office on December 13, Mr Tusk had demonstrated a “lack of intention to respect the law, the Constitution, and the principles of political decency”, the ECR statement alleged.

It said: “This was exemplified by the illegal takeover by force of the public media and the appointment of journalists who are completely subservient to the new government. Moreover, two opposition MPs have been arrested despite their immunity and the pardon by the President of Poland.

“The dismissal of the National Prosecutor in violation of legal procedures and the purges in various cultural institutions and think tanks have further showed no adherence to the rule of law.”

What was referred to as “the black, caricatural image of Poland that has been constructed over the years” was now being used to “justify and legitimise actions that make this image reality”, the statement warned.

It concluded: “These declarations and actions have been received with great concern by prominent law professors and other lawyers, including those known for their critical assessment of PiS governments.

“The rule of law cannot be restored by lawlessness. And only someone very naive can believe that a government which uses unlawful and force-based methods will refrain from them in the future.”

Speaking on Monday during a visit to Kyiv, Mr Tusk pledged to keep supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, announcing a new military aid package that includes a loan to buy larger weapons and a commitment to find ways to manufacture them together.

Meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Mr Tusk added that they had reached “an understanding” to resolve through talks any differences between their countries over grain shipments and trucking. Those issues recently soured ties between the neighbours.

He added: “Today Ukraine is shouldering the security matters of the entire European continent, today Ukraine is paying the huge price of blood for the values that are fundamental to the free world. Poland’s security is also at stake in this struggle.”

Express.co.uk has contacted the Polish Government for comment.