The Gender Gap in the Populist Vote: The Bulgarian and Hungarian Cases

Abstract

What are the differences between men and women who vote for populist parties? Do these features vary between countries? To answer these questions, this study examines attitudes that influence voting patterns in Bulgaria and Hungary using data from the nine waves of the European Social Survey (2002–2018). Holding other factors constant, the results indicate that men with heightened anti-immigration attitudes tend to vote for populist parties in Bulgaria, while women supporting policies tackling income inequality have a higher propensity to vote for populist parties than men in Hungary. In Bulgaria, women following political news have an increasing probability to vote for a populist party when compared to men. These findings clarify the cross-country variability of populist demand in post-communist countries and invite further research in the matter.