Political Communication on Telegram: Emotional Framing and Strategic Messaging in Europe

Abstract

In a technological age, many political actors provide orientations on digital platforms, especially during periods of crisis. This research aims to explore political messaging and the perceptions of public opinion in Europe within the period of the 2022 energy crisis that resulted from the war in Ukraine. First, the evolution of the perception of the citizenry is described, analysing trust in public institutions through a secondary analysis on data from the Eurobarometer. Then, Telegram messages posted over a trimester in 2022 (n = 929) by some of the governing parties and the main populist opposition parties in the four most populous EU countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) were subjected to content analysis. Results show how trust in national institutions has been eroded compared to the EU. The communication on Telegram was quite emotional, applying both positive and negative feelings, but the agenda of populists was much more fragmented than those parties in government.