Euroscepticism in party discourse during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Portugal and Spain

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic confronted the European Union (EU) with a sanitary and an economic crisis. This study examines how the crisis affected party-level Euroscepticism in Portugal and Spain through an analysis of parliamentary speeches. We propose two competing hypotheses: the pandemic may have fostered unity, tempering Euroscepticism, or alternatively, amplified criticism in response to perceived shortcomings in the EU's crisis management. We argue that the prevailing pattern is conditioned by parties’ pre-existing orientations toward the EU. Drawing on an original dataset, we found an initial decline in Euroscepticism, though its magnitude and persistence varied across ideological and national contexts. The Portuguese radical left displayed the most pronounced and enduring Euroscepticism, reinforcing the view that pre-existing party positions were crucial in shaping responses during the pandemic.