How populist parties narrated the Covid crisis. Between “thick” ideologies and competition

The Covid-19 pandemic was one of the most profound crises affecting European democracies in recent years. It produced severe health, socio-economic, and European and international consequences, becoming a political battleground crossed by opposing narratives. Among the political actors that participated in the social construction of the crisis, parties adopting populist communication deserve special attention, as they generally benefit from moments of crisis. How did populist parties in government and opposition narrate the pandemic crisis, its causes and solutions? What differences exist between the narratives of right-wing, left-wing and hybrid populisms? The article compares the crisis narratives of populist parties in Italy, France, and Spain – Lega, M5S, Podemos, Vox, LREM, RN, LFI. Through a discourse analysis of parliamentary and other speeches across three separate dimensions of the crisis, the article demonstrates the influence of competitive and ideological variables on their framing strategies.