The article deals with the phenomenon of controlled populism in contemporary Western European party systems. The problem addressed is considered at the theoretical level as well as in the dimension of selected case studies. The author’s main objective was to characterise a specific set of ways in which selected Western European mainstream parties react to the actions of populist parties and to present these reactions in the context of the theoretical framework of controlled populism. For the purposes of the text, a side objective was also pursued, which was to identify the theoretical framework of controlled populism. The case study analysis concerned the exemplary actions of selected European political parties qualified as mainstream party (Germany, France, Spain). Within the framework of the research conducted, it was determined that the analysed parties employed a populist discourse and strategy in the context of controlled populism.