Part 7/12:
While these actions aim to discredit and eliminate populist figures, they often backfire, strengthening the very movements they seek to weaken. Lawfare exposes the corruption and self-interest of the establishment, fueling public distrust. As populist leaders are targeted, their support often surges, as seen with Trump’s increased popularity amid legal battles or Le Pen’s resilience despite attempts to disqualify her.
This opposition strategy also underscores the structural realignment of politics. Rather than a traditional left-right divide, populism redefines politics around the axis of the people versus the establishment—an anti-elite narrative. The more these elites wield courts against populists, the more they confirm the populace's suspicions of systemic corruption and bias.