Populism, COVID-19, and the Rule of Law: the cases of Hungary and Poland

The COVID-19 pandemic that started in Europe in early 2020 has not only had major effects on public health and European economies, but equally affected democratic politics in a significant manner. An important question is whether the COVID-19 crisis has created opportunities for (right-wing) populist parties to strengthen their position, and more generally, whether liberal democratic systems have suffered from the pandemic in terms of the guarantee of rights and in terms of an increase in monitoring and controlling of society and individual behavior. The paper will first discuss and contextualize the emergence of populism, focusing on its most prominent, right-wing version. Subsequently, the cases of Hungary and Poland will be discussed.