Disrupting European politics? Rhetorical analysis of MEP Manon Aubry’s politicising strategies in Twitter

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article takes a conceptual approach to EU politicisation and analyses the empirical case study of MEP Manon Aubry’s use of Twitter as political activity from a rhetorical perspective. A self-proclaimed ‘activist deputy’ representing La France Insoumise is illustrated of using politicising strategies in Twitter after the European elections in 2019 to assume the representative role of a ‘disruptive outsider’. Here rhetorical analysis is used to answer the question: to what extent Aubry’s use of Twitter was a case of disruption, and whether or not it contributes to EU politicisation? Aubry, who was threatened of a sanction by the President of the European Parliament for inciting the occupation of the plenary by Extinction Rebellion, argued that her political freedom and free speech were under threat. Although the analysis is limited to only one MEP, examining the case study is an effort into conceptualising and advancing future research on disruption in European politics with a contribution in the EU politicisation literature. The aim here is not to provide evidence of how widespread this kind of politicisation is, but it offers material for further research on political careers in the EP aiming at understanding the role of newcomers as potential ‘disruptive outsiders’.