The Image of the EU as Crisis Manager in Italian Right-Wing Narratives: The Case of COVID-19

This chapter traces the emergence of Eurosceptic positions in the Italian political landscape by looking at two right-wing populist parties, the League and Brothers of Italy. This analysis focuses mainly on the period of the COVID-19 pandemic that the European Union (EU) experienced at its peak in 2020-2021. Starting from an original database of tweets posted by the leaders of these two parties, the aim is to compare the different narra- tives used to frame the European institutions in their role as crisis managers. Shared narratives focus on protecting national interests and the need for Italy to be treated with equity, solidarity and respect by the EU institutions and the other Member states. However, while in the first period, both were opposition parties and shared positions critical of the government’s actions and its subalternity to the EU, some changes occurred when the League de- cided to support the Draghi executive.