Policy Effects of the Populist Radical Right in Bulgaria

This article examines the influence of populist radical right parties (PRR) in Bulgaria on policy-making. PRR parties have been present in the Bulgarian parliament since 2005 and have even been junior partners in government or included in parliamentary majorities. This article examines the parliamentary activity of PRR parties (floor debates, committee membership, voting), as well as policy positions on key issues to assess the impact of PRR parties on the policy-making process. The paper utilizes data available from the parliament website, party documents, and media sources. The paper argues that PRR parties have managed to influence the political discourse and the policy-making process and that their positions have had a contagion effect on mainstream parties, who have adopted more radical positions on several issues.