Belonging through exclusion: The rhetoric of "true Poles" in Polish parliamentary speeches

The main aim of the article is to present and explain the category of “true Poles” (as the Polish right-wing call their supporters) and its usage in parliamentary speeches. The "true Poles", who are the embodiment of national virtues in the right-wing narrative, are contrasted with the "second sort" of Poles (i.e., supporters of other parties), who are a mixture of fools, villains and traitors. The analyzed material covers the speeches in the Polish parliament during two last cadencies: 2015-2019 and 2019-2023. The method of analysis used in this study is rhetorical criticism. We examine the function of that the category of "true Poles” and the rhetorical strategies used in its implementation, such as linguistic figures of realization and argumentation strategies. The study answers several research questions about the rhetorical and political purpose of using this category in parliamentary speeches, including: ▪️ Who are considered “true Poles” and how tare they described in parliamentary speeches? ▪️ What is the significance of “true Poles” for the Polish political system? ▪️ Why do the speakers use the expression "true Poles” andwhen is this term most commonly used? ▪️ Which political forces use the term “true Poles” and for what purpose? The analysis provides insight into how politicians use language to appeal to nationalist sentiments and create a sense of belonging among their supporters by narrowing the category of citizens who are 'worthy' of political representation. Be examining the extent to which polarisation is driven by nationalist rhetoric, it gives valuable insights into the intersection of language, nationalism, and the constant redefinition of the boundaries of the political community in Poland.