WHAT DO FAR-RIGHT PARTIES TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT GREEN ISSUES? ĽSNS IN 2016–2020 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

Nature has always had an important symbolic function in the ideology of the far right, reflected, in many cases, in the calls for local environmental protection that form an integral part of their nationalist and protectionist narratives. However, research also suggests that the far right uses green issues to gain legitimation and enter the mainstream political discourse. Our aim is to study how green issues are communicated by Slovakia’s far-right political party, Kotlebovci – Peopleʼs Party Our Slovakia. We analyse party members’ speeches in the Slovak national parliament and argue that green issues are used as a proxy for communicating the party’s ideological positions and to push other elements of the far-right agenda.