Could Fine Gael be pushed to the right?

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739523#Comment_123739523

You're getting your posters mixed up, I'm not a member of FG or any other political parties, wouldn't give FG/FF a vote ever.

Just making the point that this whole thing is nothing to do with politics, you just want to rant hyperbolically about crime and immigration.

Everlong1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739535#Comment_123739535

Apologies. I did mix you up with another poster. Still taking issue with your central point though. Obviously the post is about politics if I'm trying to stimulate a debate on how a political party's policies can be influenced.

Geuze

As the Irish voters have moved left, it may make practical sense for a party to also move left.

Maybe that is why FG have moved left?

Remaining ideologically pure could cost votes.

I would like if FG moved back to the right, but maybe I am in a minority.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739721#Comment_123739721

irish voters are largely centrists, with a sprinkle of left and right, some of course are more left, and some more right, but largely centrists, resulting in largely the same type of government formations, but its very likely we ll more back to more right leaning policies, so get ready for rising crime, and more social instability, tis all good!

XT1200

If you keep the rich wealthy enough and the poor starving, then you can remain in power by sprinkling breadcrumbs for the poor on the run-up to the election so that they vote you back in Being hungry erases bad memories.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739799#Comment_123739799

Not sure what fantasy land you're talking about, but it certainly isn't Ireland.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739511#Comment_123739511

I didn't demonise you as far right, I just observed that within the Irish context your views are way off to the right. What you view as "common sense" is politically not popular here.

As for the main question about moving FG to the right - if that happened then the result would simply be less votes for FG and more for FF to make up for that.

Thelonious Monk

Wait Temple Bar is dangerous now? I passed through it today and already it's full of the college football crowd. It's always busy with tourists. Should they leave?

Geuze

FG, who are meant to be centre-right in Ireland, would now be to the left of the Democrats in the USA.

48.1% marginal income tax on below average wages. Bonkers.

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058422237/could-fine-gael-be-pushed-to-the-right

I think with the current leaders no but I think if an older minister was leader for example if Jim O C took over as FF leader which is doubtful they could perhaps be more centre right (If I am understanding the terms correctly)

I think what we need is a decent opposition party, Aontu and Independent Ireland are making the right noise but do not have the numbers, SF went from a superb performance in GE 2020 to subpar in GE 2024 and I do think that was because of their on the fence immigration stance

To think Michael Collins is seen as the foundation father of FG, what would he think of the party and it's current leader Simon Harris today, is Harris the worse leader ever

In summation, I would say no about FG being pushed to the right

Nody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123740714#Comment_123740714

And here we hit the crux of the question; the fact there is not a "decent opposition party" with "the right numbers" after all these decades shows exactly how big the actual interest among Irish voters are on the subject. There is simply people standing in their silos screaming that Ireland wants a more right wing party yet the actual voters (i.e. the once who can make it so) never materialize to make it happen. If that's the case why would any sane politician want to go further right to actively lose voters (as proven election after election the "hidden mass" of right wing voters that is brought up so often never actually show up)?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123740145#Comment_123740145

Thats true of all centre right European parties and pretty much always has been.

facehugger99

The Irish electorate have consistently demonstrated they don't want a center right party - it's why the likes of FG have moved so far to the left.

Most people want big Government that will be involved in all aspects of life - I think we love having people telling us what to do.

Of course, ironically, the vast majority here hate the notion of having to pay for big-Government which unfortunately means we've pissed away the bonanza of cash we've received over the years from the FDI sector while simultaneously becoming one of the most indebted nations on the planet.

Everlong1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123743551#Comment_123743551

Voters have never been given the option of voting for a centre right party unless you count the PD's who did get substantial amounts of votes in their early years. I'm talking about a respectable centre right party not racist thugs who obviously don't attract substantial votes because most Irish people aren't racist thugs.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123745089#Comment_123745089

Renua tried, they failed. PDs failed. There isn't a lot of independents you'd put in the further right of fine gael bucket either.

If there's no market for it, why would a party tack right?

Everlong1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123746178#Comment_123746178

Renua failed because they had no real identity outside of being opposed to abortion which was always doomed to limit their appeal in this day and age.

If, as many people are claiming on this thread, most people in Ireland don't care about crime and immigration, then why did Fine Gael and Fianna Fail start talking tough on both issues at the last election? Could it possibly be because - shock, horror - people on the doorsteps were expressing their concerns about both? Why did Aontu - another party founded by an anti - abortion idealogue - have crime and immigration front and centre in their election publicity?

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123746394#Comment_123746394

I never said people don't care about crime or immigration. I think there are people who abound online who think it's a much much bigger deal than the vast majority of people think.

Fine gael and Fianna Fail both lost vote percentage in the last election and aontu accounted for less than 4% of the vote (and 2 seats total), so I'm not sure if they're good examples to be giving really...