Competing on the Radical Right: How Voters Choose Between Populist Radical Right Parties

Across Europe, the populist radical right (PRR) is increasingly characterized not by a single hegemonic actor, but by intra-family competition between multiple radical right parties within the same party system. In several countries, an established PRR party now competes with one or more newer, often smaller and ideologically more radical challengers. While existing research has extensively examined competition between mainstream and radical right parties, far less attention has been paid to competition within the radical right itself - and, in particular, to the voters who choose between these alternatives. This paper addresses this gap by asking: what distinguishes voters of different PRR parties within the same country, and why do voters choose one radical right option over another when multiple alternatives are available? Building on the literature on party competition and voter alignment, the paper examines whether ideological divergences between PRR parties—especially on socio-economic issues—are reflected in the socio-demographic profiles, attitudes, and issue priorities of their voters. While PRR parties typically converge on socio-cultural dimensions, notably immigration and national identity, they often diverge on economic policy, welfare, and the role of the state, potentially structuring intra-radical right vote choice. Empirically, the paper conducts a comparative analysis of PRR voters in four countries where such competition is particularly salient: France (Rassemblement National vs. Reconquête), Italy (Lega vs. Fratelli d’Italia), Poland (Law and Justice vs. Confederation), and the Netherlands (Party for Freedom, Forum for Democracy, and JA21). Rather than relying on cross-national survey datasets, the study uses national election studies from recent national elections in each country, allowing for a more fine-grained and context-sensitive analysis of voter behavior. By comparing voter profiles across competing PRR parties within and across countries, the paper seeks to identify common patterns and country-specific dynamics of intra-radical right competition. It contributes to a better understanding of voter differentiation within the radical right and sheds new light on the evolving structure of radical right competition in contemporary European party systems.