Hungary, Poland, Italy:
How National Populists Govern

The rise of national-populist parties in Europe over the past decade, coupled with their coming to power in several countries, prompts us to update our analytical framework. We must now conduct more practical and empirical studies, based on the public policies actually implemented by these parties. This is the aim of this note. 

Following a first study focusing on national-populist movements within the European Union, this new research focuses exclusively on three countries where these political forces have come to power: Viktor Orbán’s Hungary (in power between 2010 and 2026), Poland under the Law and Justice party (PiS, in power between 2015 and 2023) and Giorgia Meloni’s Italy (in power since October 2022). 

This note examines five areas of public policy: economic and social policies, migration policies, environmental policies, foreign policy and, finally, the rule of law. 

Our approach sets out to answer three questions for each of these five public policies: what do these parties put forward during election campaigns? What concrete policies do they actually implement once they come to power? Are there gaps between their rhetoric and their actions?

Behind their radical rhetoric, pragmatism tends to prevail in office. Financial dependence on the EU, labor shortages, and the constraints of the energy transition all compel national-populist governments to recalibrate their policies once in office.

This tendency towards pragmatism does not follow a single model or predetermined path; rather, it reflects a national-populist framework shaped by distinct national realities. This is particularly the case for economic, social, migration and environmental policies. It is also evident in their relationship with the rule of law: to varying degrees, each seeks to reshape its framework along with democratic institutions.

By contrast, differences arise when foreign policy is put under scrutiny. This is especially true of Orbán’s Hungary, which, since the war in Ukraine began, has followed a distinct course, openly maintaining links with Russia - through its refusal to back sanctions and military assistance to Kiev and its ongoing reliance on Russian energy. This sets it apart from Poland and Italy.