French Far-Right Populism Resisting Hegemony: Examining Crisis Performance Amid Russia's War on Ukraine

In the intricate landscape of populist discourses, the French (far) right-wing, embodied by Marine Le Pen during the 2022 French presidential election campaign, emerges as a counter-hegemonic force. Crisis, a potent instrument for performing power, becomes a strategic tool in the hands of Le Pen to challenge existing hegemonic structures. The focal point of her discourse, the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, serves as a catalyst for her deliberate deployment of crisis discourse on Twitter. Employing critical discourse analysis and drawing on Ruth Wodak's discursive strategies, the research unveils how Le Pen constructs and manipulates in-groups (France, EU) and out-groups (NATO, UN, Emmanuel Macron's government, USA, China) to advance her counterhegemonic narrative. Through discursive strategies of nomination, predication, and argumentation, Le Pen engages in a discourse that not only blames external entities but also centers on the people, showcasing her efforts to challenge existing power structures and establish a counterhegemonic influence during the tumultuous 2022 electoral landscape. The strategic deployment of crisis discourse, through blame games and people-centered tendencies, underscores Le Pen's efforts to shape perceptions, both nationally and internationally, and gain hegemonic influence amidst the unfolding geopolitical events.