Anti-immigration agenda in the rhetoric of European right-wing populism: the case of the “True Finns” party

The successful development of right-wing political parties employing populist strategies is one of the most significant phenomena in modern European political space. The relevance of this study is driven by the increasing influence of such parties on the domestic and foreign policies of European states, as well as the European Union. Since the majority of right-wing populist parties adopt anti-immigration positions, their activities can directly or indirectly affect the migration policies implemented by various actors in international relations. The “True Finns” party is a typical representative of right-wing populism, and its example allows for the examination of the role and characteristics of anti-immigrant rhetoric in the activities of right-wing populist political parties, which is the primary aim of this work. The study establishes the impact of migration crises on the emergence of the “right turn” phenomenon in European politics; determines the place of anti-immigrant rhetoric in the political agenda of the “True Finns”; examines the key proposals and demands of the party regarding changes to the migration policies of Finland and the European Union; and identifies the reasons behind the radicalization of the “True Finns” stance on immigration issues.