Far-Right Ideology on Stage: Parliamentary Activities within the European Parliament

Considering the long lasting presence of far-right parties within the European Parliament, the scientific exploration of their parliamentary activities is rather reluctant. I examine their parliamentary behavior during the 7th EP term by using a dataset that includes far-right parties (according to Mudde) and further eurosceptic parties of the EFD fraction. My quantitative analysis emphasizes that far-right MEPs tend to be very active in plenum, while they are less involved in committee work. Beyond this finding I unfold deviations between the group of far-right parties and eurosceptic – but not necessarily far-right – ones. Therefore I test whether their ideological differences translate into a differentiation in parliamentary activities. Furthermore, through a more qualitative approach I can focus on modes of cooperation inside the EFD in order to give an outlook on potential and realized political impact of far-right parties in the EP.