| Summary: | This study examines the discursive reactions of the European Central Bank (ECB) to
populism. Focusing on the period from 2012 to 2019, the research uses a corpus of 20 speeches
delivered by ECB representatives. Through a textual and contextual analysis, the aim is to uncover
patterns and themes within the ECB’s discourse on populism. The findings reveal a cohesive and unified
discourse, suggesting a consistent messaging strategy employed by the ECB. The discourse strand is
shown to be predominantly anti-populist, portraying populism as a referential object and associating it
with economic uncertainty. The two possible explanations for the ECB’s anti-populist discourse are
proposed: as part of the ECB’s discursive strategy to legitimise its actions and reinforce credibility, or
as a sign of the potential politicisation of the bank.
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