The Rise of Libertas
Declan Ganley has been a refreshing force in Irish politics. Always impeccably presented and commanding on his brief he portrays a dynamic type of politician rarely seen in our little nation. If as reported Libertas are truly considering launching themselves into electoral politics they will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with, consider their highly professional and relentless campaign on the Lisbon Treaty which put shame to the pitiful attempts of all the major political parties. Libertas shall greatly appeal to an electorate which was forcibly disenfranchised in the wake of the second Nice referendum, not the brigade who have been against the European project since 1973 as some prominent politicians would currently like us to believe but those of us who whilst ardently believing that the European Community has been a positive force upon this nation and that free markets must be expanded, not retracted, but are tired of the bloated and unaccountable nature of the bureaucratic behemoth in Brussels. Those of who tired of successive Governments relinquishing powers from our national parliament in Dublin with little discussion or debate and transfer them to a far than transparent entity in Europe.
I whole heartedly welcome Mr. Ganley’s proposed entry in the political arena and can only hope that our maintstream political parties will eventually learn from the message that was resoundingly delivered to them at the ballot box only a few short months ago. It is also interesting to note the overall lack of progress by our own leaders to draft a reformed Lisbon Treaty which could be put before us in a second referendum. Politicians who arrogantly ignore the will of the people soon find themselves removed from the comforts of high office.
Tags: Declan Ganley, Europe, Libertas
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
November 19, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Excellent piece Conor. However, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating for Libertas. Single issue political parties rarely make a significant breakthrough in national politics and while Ganley might have views on the constitutional structures of the European Union, I would like to know his opinions on international trade and greater European co-operation on defence issues.
While Ganley could not be faulted for his excellent campaign in opposing the Lisbon Treaty, I worry about the people he surrounds himself with. I tend to get the impression that he is far too indulgent of people of a lesser political quality than his own…
November 21, 2008 at 8:19 am
I agree wholeheartedly with you. However it is important that in order to make a real difference longterm, Libertas ought to run in Dail elections too – not just Euro elections. The apalling dichotomy between the 95% of Dail Eireann that is pro-Lisbon and the 54% of the public that are not is unsustainble longterm.
November 26, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Conor, how can you claim to support a Libertas political party, when you are a member of Fianna Fail? Is that not contradictory?
November 28, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I may be a member of Fianna Fáil Mark but that doesn’t mean I have to abandon all critical thinking, I admire Libertas’s work on Europe just as I have time for the occasional Progressive Democrat (au revoir to them) and Fine Gael policy. We can be pro-European without abandoning all common sense, otherwise we may wake up some morning to find Dáil Éireann is nothing but an empty husk, all real power emanating from Brussels.