Gender and unpolitics in the European Parliament: untangling radical right populist opposition to EU rules on violence against women

This research examines how right-wing radical populists (RRPs) in the European Parliament employ 'unpolitics' in their opposition to binding rules on violence against women, by means of an in-depth frame analysis of plenary debates spanning from 2016 to 2024 on the Istanbul Convention and the Directive on Violence against Women. The findings show that radical right populist Members of European Parliament (MEPs) employ unpolitics to oppose both gender policies and broader EU integration. Rather than engaging in substantive policy debate, they construct emotionally charged narratives that reject shared norms, terminologies, and values underpinning EU decision-making. By portraying the EU as weak and elitist, particularly in its handling of issues such as violence against women and migration, they position themselves as defenders of 'the people' against a corrupt establishment and alleged threats like immigration and 'gender ideology'. In this context, the issue is not framed as a matter for democratic deliberation, but as evidence that the system is already rigged. The politicization of gender issues, combined with the high visibility of plenary debates, provides a strategic stage for opposition. This performative stance serves primarily rhetorical goals: despite their vocal criticism, many RRP MEPs ultimately supported the directive, emphasizing its symbolic importance.