Challenges to Democratic Practices and Discourses in the European Parliament: Feminist Perspectives on the Politics of Political Groups

The European Parliament is now host to a significant number of politicians from radical right populist parties, leaving the Parliament to deal with illiberal elements within its structures. At the heart of the European Union's democratic values is a commitment to gender equality, a commitment hotly contested by illiberal actors and radical right populists. The research objective of this article is to use feminist political theories of democracy to understand the challenges and possibilities for democracy in the European Parliament. This overarching research objective is approached through studying political groups’ discourses and practices of democracy and equality. A qualitative analysis of parliamentary debates and interviews with European Parliament Members and staff in the 2014–2019 and 2019–2024 legislatures makes it possible to identify both antagonistic dynamics targeting gender and human rights and agonistic deliberation which creates opportunities for improving democratic practices.