Challenging the rule of law in Romania: the metamorphosis of political discourse towards populism

Abstract

This article is an exploratory analysis of the political style of the Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD), which despite being a mainstream centre-left party, has shifted from a latent to a crystalized populist rhetoric. Using qualitative content analysis of party speeches and press statements from 2015-2019, the article shows how the political style of the party becomes more populist when the domestic justice system begins to pressure leading PSD politicians. The data reveal an intersection between populist rhetoric and institutionalist discourse when PSD is trying to amend the rule of law institutions.