The populist playbook: How Le Pen and Farage weaponize scandal

The pattern is consistent across the continent. When centrist parties face scandal, they are often forced to justify their actions within the existing legal framework. In contrast, the far-right proactively expands the definition of the "swamp" to include the judiciary itself. By dismissing investigations as witch-hunts or contrived attacks, leaders like Le Pen and Farage effectively insulate their base from traditional accountability. This maneuver relies on the premise that their mandate comes directly from "the people," rendering the rulings of high courts or ethics committees irrelevant to their supporters.

The ideological shift on corruption

This rejection of institutional oversight is fueled by a cynical exploitation of public distrust. With over two-thirds of Europeans believing corruption is widespread, populists easily position themselves as the only authentic outsiders. However, the strategy goes deeper than mere deflection. As scholars observe, this rhetoric redefines corruption not as financial malpractice, but as the erosion of traditional societal hierarchies. By branding ethnic minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ groups as part of a corrupt "woke" establishment, these parties turn the legal system into a battleground for cultural purity. As this populist jury replaces the rule of law, the vulnerability of marginalized groups increases, mirroring the erosion of democratic guardrails already observed in Hungary.