One of the fundamental characteristics of contemporary far-right movements is authoritarianism, defined by the prioritisation of strict obedience to authority over the protection of human rights and individual freedoms. By their very nature, far-right political actors inherently oppose human rights, particularly those of minorities and vulnerable populations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by a surge in movements opposing lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccination policies, revealed a paradox: far-right groups presenting themselves as defenders of fundamental rights and freedoms. The pandemic is not the only instance of the far right (mis)using the concept of human rights, though it was particularly significant in Central and Eastern Europe, where growing authoritarian tendencies and tolerance for illiberal narratives have become increasingly visible.
This case study employs qualitative content analysis of human rights-related parliamentary speeches by far-right politicians in the National Council of the Slovak Republic during its 7th (2016–2020) and 8th (2020–2023) electoral terms, covering both pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. The paper examines how far-right politicians appropriated and manipulated human rights arguments, ostensibly advocating for rights protection while advancing anti-democratic agendas. This phenomenon challenges theoretical understandings of the far right and calls for renewed reflection on how human rights discourse can be co-opted to legitimise exclusionary and illiberal politics.
