Populist securitization in an era of radical uncertainty: the Rassemblement National and the Freedom Party as protectors of the people and enemies of the elite

A distinct securitizing language has emerged in the electoral discourse of populist radical-right leaders. This language places ‘the people’ at the center of threat construction and links different political issues to their identity, sovereignty, and security. Drawing on securitization theory and recent debates on populism and security, this article analyzes how populist securitization is manifested in the discourses of the Rassemblement National in France and the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands. The selected parties’ 2017–2022 election campaign speeches and party texts are examined through qualitative content analysis. The article argues that populism operates as a securitizing style through which leaders construct ‘the people’ not only as a threatened collective, but also as an actor whose will, authority, and sovereignty are invoked to legitimize securitizing claims. In this process, Islam, migration, European integration, sovereignty, political elites, and public health are not securitized as separate issues, but are connected through a broader discourse of popular sovereignty, elite betrayal, and protection of the people. The analysis shows that populist securitization expands security beyond traditional security issues and transforms it into a continuous political strategy through which leaders reconstruct the identity of ‘the people’ and justify their own political authority.