Supporters of the conservative government in Warsaw say that today’s criticisms of Polish policies past and present are merely the latest pages in the country’s troubled history

The recent past has not always been kind to Poland’s international image. Its conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) government has been excoriated by its opponents at home and by the international media for trying to undermine the rule of law. It has also been threatened with European Union sanctions over its proposed reforms to the judiciary.

The government’s defenders argue that it is doing nothing that other democracies don’t do, and claim its critics have – as usual – got it in for Poland. Meanwhile, a war of words with Russia has been ignited by incendiary speeches critical of Poland’s historical record made by Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin. These controversies are linked. As Poland’s reputation is tarnished, its enemies’ chances of undermining its links with the West are boosted.

When PiS, headed by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, won its first absolute majority in October 2015, it pledged to help citizens excluded from the benefits of economic liberalisation, while taking steps to combat corruption and strengthen accountability. But it quickly courted controversy with its attempts to tighten control over state TV and radio station appointments and force older judges to retire.