European Parliament Elections 2019

blackwhite · 05-05-2019 11:28am

A small selection from the Dublin candidates on RTÉ Week in Politics this morning.
Cuffe and Andrews coming across the strongest IMO - with White and Boylan acquitting themselves well also.
Durkan very poor - seems unwilling to give a hard opinion on anything.

AndrewJRenko · 05-05-2019 11:49am

Faugheen wrote: »

He hasn't a prayer I reckon. Clare Daly will mop up the northside vote, You would imagine Frances Fitzgerald will get a bit. Lynn Boylan should keep her seat while the last one is probably between Andrews and Gary Gannon, although I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ciaran Cuffe is competitive for the Greens either.

He'll need Frances Fitzgerald to get a big surplus I reckon, which I don't see either. Daly and Boylan will top the poll from my educated guess.

Hard to see Gannon getting critical mass - Andrews will get a traditional FF vote, Cuffe will get a substantial green-friendly vote, White and Gannon will get their small party vote and a few hangers-on.

is_that_so · 05-05-2019 11:53am

blackwhite wrote: »

A small selection from the Dublin candidates on RTÉ Week in Politics this morning.
Cuffe and Andrews coming across the strongest IMO - with White and Boylan acquitting themselves well also.
Durkan very poor - seems unwilling to give a hard opinion on anything.

I think Durkan is a profile raising effort and to help Fitzgerald in transfers. White has always given a good impression but just can't see him attracting enough votes.

An Ciarraioch · 05-05-2019 12:01pm

is_that_so wrote: »

I think Durkan is a profile raising effort and to help Fitzgerald in transfers. White has always given a good impression but just can't see him attracting enough votes.

Those of us of a certain age will remember Austin Currie's underwhelming presidential campaign.

AndrewJRenko · 05-05-2019 12:05pm

is_that_so wrote: »

I think Durkan is a profile raising effort and to help Fitzgerald in transfers.

That makes sense from a FG pov, but what's in it for him? Why would he take take on a campaign like this to help out a party that he had no real connection with? Is he naive enough to think that he has a real chance of a getting a couple of years on the gravy train?

L1011 · 05-05-2019 12:24pm

Seanad seat next time FG have them going probably

is_that_so · 05-05-2019 12:29pm

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

Those of us of a certain age will remember Austin Currie's underwhelming presidential campaign.

As was Gay Mitchell's. Presidential is not the same as other elections and typically a bad one to draw conclusions from.

expectationlost · 05-05-2019 11:35pm

L1011 wrote: »

Seanad seat next time FG have them going probably

he was considered for the Seanad first but the only slot FG had was on the agriculture panel which he wouldn't be have the 'knowledge and experience' for https://www.thejournal.ie/mark-durkan-fine-gael-european-elections-4523626-Mar2019/

road_high · 06-05-2019 8:18am

Watching the Week in Politics- that Lynne Boylan is a joke, typical SF doom monger opposed to everything, stirring sensationalist populist non sense but yet wants to be out there with the head in the trough.

Yurt2 · 06-05-2019 8:19am

Faugheen wrote: »

He hasn't a prayer I reckon. Clare Daly will mop up the northside vote, You would imagine Frances Fitzgerald will get a bit. Lynn Boylan should keep her seat while the last one is probably between Andrews and Gary Gannon, although I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ciaran Cuffe is competitive for the Greens either.

He'll need Frances Fitzgerald to get a big surplus I reckon, which I don't see either. Daly and Boylan will top the poll from my educated guess.

Cuffe will poll better than Gannon I think. It also wouldn't surprise me if FG ended up with zero seats running with Durkan.

road_high · 06-05-2019 8:29am

Yurt! wrote: »

Cuffe will poll better than Gannon I think. It also wouldn't surprise me if FG ended up with zero seats running with Durkan.

Doubt it, there’s a quota there and FG are very strong in Dublin.

road_high · 06-05-2019 8:35am

The Gemma O’Doherty nutter is running I see. The looney tune vote will be split, Hermann Kelly also going. Oh and so is Ben Gilroy

retalivity · 06-05-2019 4:19pm

expectationlost wrote: »

Find out which party best represents your views for European Elections https://euandi2019.eu

65% renua is the highest for me - roflcopters

Eric Cartman · 06-05-2019 9:06pm

Im glad that website actually acknowledges that Ireland has no right (how renua is even on the list is beyond me, and how im an 83% match is beyond me) even the EU acknowledges that FG and FF are centre left pro EU.

L1011 · 06-05-2019 9:36pm

The EU didn't decide where to classify parties; the University of Lucerne did. The fact that it has PBP to the right (slightly) of Labour would indicate the validity of their decisions!

MFPM · 06-05-2019 9:51pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Im glad that website actually acknowledges that Ireland has no right (how renua is even on the list is beyond me, and how im an 83% match is beyond me) even the EU acknowledges that FG and FF are centre left pro EU.

The idea that FG are centre left is absurd, FF tends to don left rhetoric went it suits them.

expectationlost · 07-05-2019 9:48am

L1011 wrote: »

The EU didn't decide where to classify parties; the University of Lucerne did.

apparently UCD masters students did http://www.ucd.ie/spire/newsandevents/euandivoteradviceapp/

Masters students in Dr Cross' Politics of European Governance module contributed to the big task of coding Irish political party policies for the app.

https://twitter.com/ucdpolitics/status/1125697600735281153

Eric Cartman · 07-05-2019 2:02pm

MFPM wrote: »

The idea that FG are centre left is absurd, FF tends to don left rhetoric went it suits them.

Name two right wing things fg have actually done in this election cycle.

MFPM · 08-05-2019 10:09am

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Name two right wing things fg have actually done in this election cycle.

Seriously???? They've just announced they are going to subsidise rural broadband up to 3Bn and the private sector will run and own it - the state will never own the network - essentially they have agreed to a private monopoly.

They have established the LMA which which is essentially the privatisation of public land.

They have undermined building regs for apartments after intensive lobbying by various private sector interests to facilitate apartment building simply to make it more profitable...they introduced and continue to rely on HAP to provide social and affordable housing.

They are facilitaing the privatisation of 10% (to start with) of Dublin Bus routes.

On a political level Coveney has publicly supported Guaido's US backed attempted coup in Venezuela....

We can go on if you like...As I said it's absurd to consider FG as centre left.

Eric Cartman · 08-05-2019 12:15pm

Government spending on infrastructure and spending on housing the poor is right wing... ive heard it all now.

MFPM · 08-05-2019 12:34pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Government spending on infrastructure and spending on housing the poor is right wing... ive heard it all now.

That's a pathetic response. Have some courage and at least make a defense of your argument.

Eric Cartman · 08-05-2019 12:41pm

MFPM wrote: »

That's a pathetic response. Have some courage and at least make a defense of your argument.

FG have :
Instituted rent pressure zones
Transitioned fron rent allowance to a larger HAP payment
Banned declining HAP from housing ad’s
Created a social housing requirement for new developments
Given people on welfare a christmas bonus
Instituted free gp care for under (12s) iirc
Have expanded the availability of public transport
Have undertaken numerous public transport projects such as luas cross city
Have increased government spending in almost every department
A cyclist oriented overhaul of the city centre and endless cycle paths built all at the detriment of the tax paying motorist
Talks of minimum unit pricing on alcohol, increased taxation on cigarettes.

Have they lowered taxes - not in any meaningful way
Have they been tougher on crime or immigration - not at all
Have they displayed any of the characteristics of any ‘right wing’ party in the entire EU - no.

Its been spend spend spend , giveaways to those who don’t work, and a ‘tough sh*t’ to those who do. If you handed a list of everything FG have done in two election cycles to somebody who didnt know and told them it was the labour party theyd accept it without question.

RandomName2 · 08-05-2019 12:59pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Im glad that website actually acknowledges that Ireland has no right (how renua is even on the list is beyond me, and how im an 83% match is beyond me) even the EU acknowledges that FG and FF are centre left pro EU.

That website clearly has no idea what it's talking about if it casually lumps 'conservative' with "anti-EU". Fine Gael is well known for being the most pro-EU party in the Dáil, but it is clearly not the most 'left wing'. PBP is clearly one of the more 'liberal' parties in the Dáil, and also one of the more anti-EU parties.

Well, it might depend on how you are defining 'left' and 'right' wing, but no matter what definition you take, that website is going to be chock full of contradictions. It's taking a model that works in one country (possibly UK?) but doesn't work in Ireland. It wouldn't work somewhere like France either, mind you (where Melenchon is quite anti-EU, despite being far more left wing than Macron).

L1011 · 08-05-2019 1:50pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Its been spend spend spend , giveaways to those who don’t work, and a ‘tough sh*t’ to those who do. If you handed a list of everything FG have done in two election cycles to somebody who didnt know and told them it was the labour party theyd accept it without question.

That'd be because quite a lot of that was Labour Ministers or Labour 2011 manifesto content that got in to the Programme for Government. Labour got marginally more of its manifesto implemented than FG in that Government.

However - the social housing content for new developments? FF under Bertie.

And most people using public transport are workers.

Dyr · 08-05-2019 6:12pm

I reckon the turn out for Dublin will be shocking, looking at the runners it's really poor field

Eric Cartman · 08-05-2019 7:16pm

Bambi wrote: »

I reckon the turn out for Dublin will be shocking, looking at the runners it's really poor field

+1 just a poor campaign really, very little airtime or press worthy incidents, Id say this is an incumbents election with a few baring the party brand in toe. Hopefully no upsets that see the likes of Gemma in the door.

Casey doesnt have the momentum behind him that the presidential race brought, ill still give him my no.1 anyway.

CrabRevolution · 08-05-2019 7:38pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Im glad that website actually acknowledges that Ireland has no right (how renua is even on the list is beyond me, and how im an 83% match is beyond me) even the EU acknowledges that FG and FF are centre left pro EU.

So PBP are apparently more right wing than Labour, and also more pro-EU than FG despite PBP supporting brexit and also wanting Ireland to leave the EU?

AndrewJRenko · 08-05-2019 8:44pm

Eric Cartman wrote: »

A cyclist oriented overhaul of the city centre and endless cycle paths built all at the detriment of the tax paying motorist

Wake up, wake up Eric - you're having that recurring bad dream again! The one where you get all confused and fuzzy about who pays tax and how roads infrastructure is funded.

ancapailldorcha · 09-05-2019 7:21am

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Wake up, wake up Eric - you're having that recurring bad dream again! The one where you get all confused and fuzzy about who pays tax and how roads infrastructure is funded.

No more of this nonsense please.

FrancieBrady · 09-05-2019 7:28am

When do we get an opinion poll does anyone know?

blackwhite · 09-05-2019 7:37am

FrancieBrady wrote: »

When do we get an opinion poll does anyone know?

I'd guess the Sunday papers will have something this weekend - if they wait until next weekend it'll be getting very close to the actual votes

Claire Byrne next week is a possibility also

MFPM · 10-05-2019 7:45am

Eric Cartman wrote: »

FG have :
Instituted rent pressure zones
Transitioned fron rent allowance to a larger HAP payment
Banned declining HAP from housing ad’s
Created a social housing requirement for new developments
Given people on welfare a christmas bonus
Instituted free gp care for under (12s) iirc
Have expanded the availability of public transport
Have undertaken numerous public transport projects such as luas cross city
Have increased government spending in almost every department
A cyclist oriented overhaul of the city centre and endless cycle paths built all at the detriment of the tax paying motorist
Talks of minimum unit pricing on alcohol, increased taxation on cigarettes.

Have they lowered taxes - not in any meaningful way
Have they been tougher on crime or immigration - not at all
Have they displayed any of the characteristics of any ‘right wing’ party in the entire EU - no.

Its been spend spend spend , giveaways to those who don’t work, and a ‘tough sh*t’ to those who do. If you handed a list of everything FG have done in two election cycles to somebody who didnt know and told them it was the labour party theyd accept it without question.

The fact that FG may not implement every policy or practice that you consider to be 'right wing' does not mean they are not a right wing party.

Instituted rent pressure zones
Transitioned fron rent allowance to a larger HAP payment
Banned declining HAP from housing ad’s

RPZs are a minimalist intervention into the market and it's a cop out that isn't working it was done simply to ease the pressure they are under for the failure of their housing policy.

HAP is nothing more than a subsidy to the private sector to provide social and affordable housing. The Ad reference is in keeping with the RPZ move - minimalist and cosmetic.

You're focusing on micro measures to sustain a failed argument while ignoring macro policy and practice.

Created a social housing requirement for new developments

That was implemented in 2000 by FF, it was aletered by FG and Lab to make it less 'onerous' on developers.

Given people on welfare a christmas bonus
Instituted free gp care for under (12s) iirc

Again you're cherry picking while ignoring the overall emphasis of policy.

You focus on 'free gp' care while ignoring the ovewhelming two tier health service created and sustained for the private sector.

Have expanded the availability of public transport

Nonsense....I mentioned Bus Connects with 10% routes to be privatised , you ignored it.

Have undertaken numerous public transport projects such as luas cross city

And????

Have increased government spending in almost every department

Indeed and how much of that spending is to facilitate the private sector such as Broadband, LIHAF, LMA, subsidising MNCs, subsidising Vulture funds?

A cyclist oriented overhaul of the city centre and endless cycle paths built all at the detriment of the tax paying motorist

Dublin is one of the most unfriendly city for cyclists in Europe, change is necessary, the city should change for numerous reasons inclduing congestion, environment and safety. You also seem to miss the fact that the overwhelming majority of cyclists are 'tax paying motorists' too!

Talks of minimum unit pricing on alcohol, increased taxation on cigarettes.

They are health related issues and are easy tax raising measures.

Have they displayed any of the characteristics of any ‘right wing’ party in the entire EU - no.

Have they lowered taxes - not in any meaningful way

Have they increased corporation tax, have they stopped subsidising the vulture funds, have they introduced a wealth tax?

Have they been tougher on crime or immigration - not at all

Ireland still one of the hardest countries in which to claim asylum, no end to direct provision, not meeting committments on refugee resettlement.

What would you suggest on crime that's needed?

Its been spend spend spend

Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher did alot of spendig too, they were still doyens of neoliberalism - you seem to think spending is only for the poor.

giveaways to those who don’t work

Plenty of giveaways for the wealthy but you seem fine with that.

If you handed a list of everything FG have done in two election cycles to somebody who didnt know and told them it was the labour party theyd accept it without question.

If you gave them the selective list of micro measures that you've come up with, perhaps, but if you gave them the macro list that I mentioned and you duly ignored (funny that!) they'd see FG as part and parcel of the European right and they'd agree with me that it's absurd to described them as 'centre left'. As for the LP, perhaps that reflects the broad shift to the right of that party since the 1980s.

blackwhite · 10-05-2019 7:45am

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/latest-poll-shows-fg-on-track-to-top-all-three-european-constituencies-1.3886974

IT with the first of the weekend.

Looks like Fitzgerald will take 1st seat in Dublin. Andrews probably the 2nd - but I'd wonder how well he'll do on transfers. Appears to be Boylan, Daly and Cuffe fighting for 3rd and the "Brexit" 4th seat - but it wouldn't be impossible to see transfers pushing one of them above Andrews.
Where the transfers of White and Durkan land could end up having a big say on seats 3-4.

MNW looks like McGuinness and Ming will be safe - with McGuinness possibly on the 1st count. Carthy should hold his seat as well, but under a bit of pressure.
Walsh making a strong run at the final spot, but wouldn't be surprised to see Casey take a lot of early transfers from the more fringe also-rans.

South is probably a bit tighter, with Kelly looking strong, and LNR and Kelleher unlikely to miss out. One of Clune or Doyle will likely get a seat - albeit possibly the 5th seat if they struggle with transfers. Any of Wallace, Nunan or O'Sullivan could make a surge on transfers to challenge for either 4th or 5th seat either.

Jamie2k9 · 10-05-2019 8:49am

Imagine if Daily bags the seat over Boylan. Mary Loo would be in a real uncomfortable position.

Casey should do better than 9%.

MFPM · 10-05-2019 8:57am

blackwhite wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/latest-poll-shows-fg-on-track-to-top-all-three-european-constituencies-1.3886974

IT with the first of the weekend.

Looks like Fitzgerald will take 1st seat in Dublin. Andrews probably the 2nd - but I'd wonder how well he'll do on transfers. Appears to be Boylan, Daly and Cuffe fighting for 3rd and the "Brexit" 4th seat - but it wouldn't be impossible to see transfers pushing one of them above Andrews.
Where the transfers of White and Durkan land could end up having a big say on seats 3-4.

MNW looks like McGuinness and Ming will be safe - with McGuinness possibly on the 1st count. Carthy should hold his seat as well, but under a bit of pressure.
Walsh making a strong run at the final spot, but wouldn't be surprised to see Casey take a lot of early transfers from the more fringe also-rans.

South is probably a bit tighter, with Kelly looking strong, and LNR and Kelleher unlikely to miss out. One of Clune or Doyle will likely get a seat - albeit possibly the 5th seat if they struggle with transfers. Any of Wallace, Nunan or O'Sullivan could make a surge on transfers to challenge for either 4th or 5th seat either.

I'm a little sceptical about these poll figures...based on a sampe of just 500, that's very low. In Dublin I'd expect Fitzgerald to be out in front but the gap is a little surprising, the media are pushing the Greens quite a bit, I think White, Harrold, Brien are all overstated.

Fitz, Andrews and 2 from Boylan, Daly and Cuffe it seems.

KikiLaRue · 10-05-2019 8:58am

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Imagine if Daily bags the seat over Boylan. Mary Loo would be in a real uncomfortable position.

Casey should do better than 9%.

On what basis? He managed 23% in an election where none of the main political parties participated, and people felt very comfortable throwing him a protest vote safe in the knowledge that Michael D would be confirmed.

I've been in Galway over the last few weeks and haven't seen a single poster, no sign that he's canvassing, visiting schools, hosting local events.

It reeks of hubris that he thinks he can just put his name down on the ballot paper and get elected.

He's up against very well established FF and FG machines this time. Would be surprised if FF didn't up their game in the last few weeks to win a seat.

blackwhite · 10-05-2019 9:02am

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Imagine if Daily bags the seat over Boylan. Mary Loo would be in a real uncomfortable position.

Casey should do better than 9%.

There's quite a few loons running in MNW who will eat into some of Casey's first-preference vote from the presidential election. Wouldn't surprise to see him hoover up transfers from them though
He was also the "de facto" FF-genepool candidate in the presidential poll, so would imagine there's a few of his presidential voters now giving their 1st to Smith or Rabbitte

Zubeneschamali · 10-05-2019 9:03am

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Casey should do better than 9%.

Casey may do better, but certainly shouldn't.

mrbrianj · 10-05-2019 9:08am

Casey selling point in the presidential election was that he spoke out about travellers, and he was not Michael D.

In a normal election he has to really debate against hardened political fighters. Ming and Carty already have his corner of the market covered, and would wipe the floor with him in any format.

Faugheen · 10-05-2019 9:21am

blackwhite wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/latest-poll-shows-fg-on-track-to-top-all-three-european-constituencies-1.3886974

IT with the first of the weekend.

Looks like Fitzgerald will take 1st seat in Dublin. Andrews probably the 2nd - but I'd wonder how well he'll do on transfers. Appears to be Boylan, Daly and Cuffe fighting for 3rd and the "Brexit" 4th seat - but it wouldn't be impossible to see transfers pushing one of them above Andrews.
Where the transfers of White and Durkan land could end up having a big say on seats 3-4.

MNW looks like McGuinness and Ming will be safe - with McGuinness possibly on the 1st count. Carthy should hold his seat as well, but under a bit of pressure.
Walsh making a strong run at the final spot, but wouldn't be surprised to see Casey take a lot of early transfers from the more fringe also-rans

If the poll turns out to be in anyway true, then you have to consider that a sizeable portion of McGuinness' surplus will go to Maria Walsh.

blackwhite · 10-05-2019 9:27am

Faugheen wrote: »

If the poll turns out to be in anyway true, then you have to consider that a sizeable portion of McGuinness' surplus will go to Maria Walsh.

You'd imagine so - but it would still likely leave her needing 3-4% to reach the quota. Transfers from others still going to be critical for her.

FreudianSlippers · 10-05-2019 9:30am

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Imagine if Daily bags the seat over Boylan. Mary Loo would be in a real uncomfortable position.

Casey should do better than 9%.

I'm a bit torn there - I'd normally never vote for either, but it would be interesting to get Daly out of local politics.

Larbre34 · 10-05-2019 10:06am

FF were idiots running 2 in MNW, they could've been booking office space for Smith already if they hadn't.

nice_guy80 · 10-05-2019 10:06am

blackwhite wrote: »

There's quite a few loons running in MNW who will eat into some of Casey's first-preference vote from the presidential election. Wouldn't surprise to see him hoover up transfers from them though
He was also the "de facto" FF-genepool candidate in the presidential poll, so would imagine there's a few of his presidential voters now giving their 1st to Smith or Rabbitte

who are the loons?

Larbre34 · 10-05-2019 10:09am

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

I'm a bit torn there - I'd normally never vote for either, but it would be interesting to get Daly out of local politics.

Indeed. The airwaves have been relatively blissful these last 5 years without the dulcet sneer of LMF day in day out.

It would be even more entertaining to see her and Micko separated.

Danzy · 10-05-2019 10:11am

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

I'm a bit torn there - I'd normally never vote for either, but it would be interesting to get Daly out of local politics.

I disagree with Daly on most things but she has been one of the outstanding TDs from the last 20 years.

She has done more for her country than many who are Ministers for many terms.

blackwhite · 10-05-2019 10:14am

nice_guy80 wrote: »

who are the loons?

The first three that spring to mind are
Green
Miller
Healy Eames

MFPM · 10-05-2019 10:16am

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

I'm a bit torn there - I'd normally never vote for either, but it would be interesting to get Daly out of local politics.

Do tell us what would be so 'interesting' about that?

Eric Cartman · 10-05-2019 11:16am

MFPM wrote: »

The fact that FG may not implement every policy or practice that you consider to be 'right wing' does not mean they are not a right wing party.

RPZs are a minimalist intervention into the market and it's a cop out that isn't working it was done simply to ease the pressure they are under for the failure of their housing policy.

HAP is nothing more than a subsidy to the private sector to provide social and affordable housing. The Ad reference is in keeping with the RPZ move - minimalist and cosmetic.

You're focusing on micro measures to sustain a failed argument while ignoring macro policy and practice.

That was implemented in 2000 by FF, it was aletered by FG and Lab to make it less 'onerous' on developers.

Again you're cherry picking while ignoring the overall emphasis of policy.

You focus on 'free gp' care while ignoring the ovewhelming two tier health service created and sustained for the private sector.

Nonsense....I mentioned Bus Connects with 10% routes to be privatised , you ignored it.

And????

Indeed and how much of that spending is to facilitate the private sector such as Broadband, LIHAF, LMA, subsidising MNCs, subsidising Vulture funds?

Dublin is one of the most unfriendly city for cyclists in Europe, change is necessary, the city should change for numerous reasons inclduing congestion, environment and safety. You also seem to miss the fact that the overwhelming majority of cyclists are 'tax paying motorists' too!

They are health related issues and are easy tax raising measures.

Have they increased corporation tax, have they stopped subsidising the vulture funds, have they introduced a wealth tax?

Ireland still one of the hardest countries in which to claim asylum, no end to direct provision, not meeting committments on refugee resettlement.

What would you suggest on crime that's needed?

Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher did alot of spendig too, they were still doyens of neoliberalism - you seem to think spending is only for the poor.

Plenty of giveaways for the wealthy but you seem fine with that.

If you gave them the selective list of micro measures that you've come up with, perhaps, but if you gave them the macro list that I mentioned and you duly ignored (funny that!) they'd see FG as part and parcel of the European right and they'd agree with me that it's absurd to described them as 'centre left'. As for the LP, perhaps that reflects the broad shift to the right of that party since the 1980s.

So not doing super lefty things like a wealth tax males them right wing now ? , theyre centerists with a sliver of lefty on the social policy aspect, its the reality of it . They are not a right wing party by any real metric. You’d just preffer to think that so you can sit there like the simpsons “old man shakes fist at cloud”

Ive asked for right wing policies that the party has implemented and you came back with coveney backing a coup to save the starving venezuelan people and a hardline left viewpoint of social programs and spending. FG are only right wing if you consider pbp centerists, which they are not.

Loafing Oaf · 10-05-2019 11:30am

Larbre34 wrote: »

FF were idiots running 2 in MNW, they could've been booking office space for Smith already if they hadn't.

There's always swings and roundabouts with these things though. Smith will pick up transfers from the southern end of the constituency that he would not have got if he was running on his own. Whatever way things pan out, I would be surprised if FF do not manage one seat out of four in the constituency where they have historically been strongest. I suppose the wild card is Maria Walsh, who will pick up transfers from left/anti-establishment candidates that a true blue FGer would not have gotten.

European Parliament Elections 2019

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