From Opposition to Strategic Ownership? A Comparative Analysis of Populist Radical Right Government Discourse on EU Climate Policy: The Cases of Hungary and Poland

Abstract

The electoral rise of populist radical right (PRR) parties in Europe has sparked interest in their climate policy stance. Most research focuses on PRR opposition parties, leaving limited insight into how they communicate when in government, given institutional constraints. This thesis addresses this gap by analysing the official discourse of Hungary's Fidesz and Poland's PiS during the initial phase of the European Green Deal (2019-2021). Using framing theory and Benford and Snow's typology, a content analysis was conducted on 25 government documents, including speeches and policy statements. The findings provide stronger support for the strategic positioning perspective than for the ideological perspective. Climate policy was largely framed around economic protection, national interest, and government competence. Two inductively derived frames emerged: in Hungary, a policy success frame in which Fidesz positioned itself as a climate leader, balancing economic growth and the environment; in Poland, PiS used a fair burden-sharing frame, accepting EU climate goals while emphasising socio-economic factors such as coal dependence. Notably, the Polish discourse displayed an unexpectedly pro-environmental orientation that extends beyond what existing strategic positioning theory would anticipate. Despite their shared ideological family and geographical context, differences between the cases indicate that context substantially influences how PRR governments approach supranational climate policy. These findings indicate that existing theories may overestimate the role of ideological climate scepticism among PRR parties in government and underestimate the moderating effects of governing responsibilities. They inform policymakers and EU institutions about how to engage with PRR-led states.