In or out? Power and coalition-making in European parliaments for radical right parties

The rise of the radical right parties in Europe has led these parties to become major players in the parliamentary sessions, either in helping to form government or as major opposition parties. The growing public support for these parties has led them to gain more power in parliaments. Examining the far-right parties from 18 European countries from 1994 to 2018, this study seeks to understand when and why these parties participate in forming government. Specifically, I develop a power index that measures the relative strength of far-right parties based on their seat share. I then test that against competing theories of government formation. The findings suggest that the relative power of far-right does indeed affect the likelihood that they will form government. Surprisingly, however, I find this is the only factor that matters – ideological extremity, salience of immigration, and public opinion about RRPs do not seem to be a major determinant of coalition inclusion.