The Party leaders of tomorrow? An explorative analysis of the leadership of European PRR youth wings

Political parties form or maintain youth factions to recruit, train and socialise young persons for future careers in the mother parties. Several of the present party leaders of the European PRR parties have started their political careers within the youth organisations. We know very little about these early recruitment processes. Based on interviews with the leadership of PRR youth wings from ten European countries, the paper asks why young people stand as candidates for, and assume leadership positions within, populist radical right youth factions. We analyse their background, what motivated them, how do they see their role as leaders, and their future within the party.