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Irish Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Labour must decide if messy break-up with Catherine Connolly is salient factor in presidential backing
Just under a decade ago, Catherine Connolly diagnosed the Labour Party had 'lost its soul'. This afternoon, the Independent TD for Galway West - who was a Labour councillor and Dáil aspirant for the party before decamping in 2006 - will go searching for its votes to formally back her for the presidential election race. A meeting is set between Connolly and the 13 Oireachtas members of the Parliamentary Labour Party for 4.30pm today. Connolly, having secured the backing of the Social Democrats , People Before Profit and several Independent members, has the wind at her back and seems almost certain to secure the 20 required votes regardless of whether Labour backs her. In some ways, it's a more consequential decision for Labour than it is for Connolly. It must decide if the messy break-up between the party and Connolly is still a salient factor. She left the party having failed to get on the ticket as a running mate for Michael D Higgins in the 2007 general election. As an Independent TD, she was a forthright critic of Labour in government. However, some party grandees who served in cabinet and were on the receiving end of those criticisms are sanguine about her potential endorsement by the party. 'On balance,' says one, speaking privately, 'I think bygones be bygones'. This mirrors the views of some within the current parliamentary party, who like her politics and her pugnacious, sincere style, while harbouring some concerns. One TD says her history with Labour is 'not relevant' to their consideration of her candidacy: 'The past is just that'. [ Who is Catherine Connolly? The outspoken left-wing campaigner running for president Opens in new window ] A second former senior figure in the Labour Party says they are undecided, while simultaneously saying they would have no principled objection to Connolly based on her history with Labour. But they outline their view that the forthright Galway native can be 'quite difficult to work with', adding knowingly that people who favour her within Labour may not have had much to do with her in the past. There are also those who want to know more about what her platform is - and what precisely is the nature of support that will be sought. Will it just be Oireachtas votes and rhetorical endorsements, or will manpower and money also be sought? Openness should not be confused for a headlong enthusiasm for backing Connolly, from past or present members of the parliamentary party - and she will have her work cut out to win over some current TDs. Some are of the view that Tipperary North's Alan Kelly will take particular convincing. But what she does have going for her is an alignment of political circumstances that leaves Labour open to endorsement, rather than fielding its own candidate. The party views itself as having changed the nature of the presidency with Mary Robinson, and as having some political custody of the office given Higgins's enduring popularity across his two terms. Sitting out the presidential campaign entirely would be unpalatable - but it also knows that Connolly's emergence as a left wing front-runner will soak up Oireachtas votes that could go to an alternative candidate, even one given a significant bump by 13 Labour votes. A second left candidate could also split the vote, while Connolly is seen as someone who may be well positioned to surf the political zeitgeist in the autumn. By this stage, muses one grandee, the evenings will be longer, the weather worse, and an unpopular Government will be closing in on a budget with none of the baubles that voters have become used to. In those circumstances, many may use the chance to back an anti-establishment candidate so the Government parties feel their displeasure in what is ultimately a second order election.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Merz's Domestic Stumbles Show His Power Base Is Under Strain
Chancellor Friedrich Merz spent the first weeks of his tenure bolstering Germany's standing on the global stage, but domestically he's stumbled, casting doubt on his ability to implement economic reforms. The latest blow was the failure to elect three new judges to Germany's top court. Votes in the lower house of parliament — which should have been procedural since the ruling parties agreed on the justices in advance — were pulled at the last minute on Friday after it became clear that Merz's conservatives weren't going to fully support a candidate proposed by the co-ruling Social Democrats.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Catherine Connolly gathers support for Áras run
Independent TD Catherine Connolly is on course to secure the backing of enough TDs and Senators to formally enter the presidential election race, even if the Labour Party does not offer its support. The Galway West TD needs 20 Oireachtas members to get on the ballot paper and is likely to meet that threshold in the coming days. She has been invited to address Labour's parliamentary party next week as she prepares her bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. There are signs of division within Labour over whether or not it should support Ms Connolly, a former member who fell out with the party almost two decades ago. READ MORE [ The presidential race is (finally) hotting up as one serious contender throws her hat in ring Opens in new window ] While Labour leader Ivana Bacik is said to be well-disposed to Ms Connolly's candidacy, others in the party are unenthusiastic. One source said some members would vote for 'anyone else but her'. However, Ms Connolly is within touching distance of meeting the nomination threshold even without Labour. The Irish Times has counted as many as 18 supporters in the Oireachtas already. She has the confirmed support of at least 16 TDs and Senators. That includes the Social Democrats ' ten TDs and one Senator. Acting party leader Cian O'Callaghan said he was 'delighted' Ms Connolly was running for president. Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes, suspended from the Social Democrats, also confirmed he will back Ms Connolly. On Friday, Donegal TD Charles Ward of the 100 per cent Redress Party and Tipperary South Independent Seamus Healy told The Irish Times they would support her as did Independent Senator Eileen Flynn. Mr Ward said he believed she would be a 'true independent voice for Ireland' while Mr Healy said she would be an 'excellent candidate' and looked forward to campaigning for her. Ms Flynn said she was hoping to sign Ms Connolly's papers describing her as an 'absolute powerhouse'. During the week former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley – an independent deputy for Laois – also backed Ms Connolly. People Before Profit's steering committee was last night expected to recommend that its two TDs, Richard Boyd Barrett and Paul Murphy, would support Ms Connolly before a final decision by the wider party later on. Other left-wing politicians such as Independent Senator Lynn Ruane and Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger are yet to make a decision on nomination. Ms Coppinger said her party had not yet discussed the presidential election. Green leader Roderic O'Gorman said his party has not been formally approached about Ms Connolly's presidential bid but said 'we are open to discussions and would consider any approach seriously'. A former Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Ms Connolly left the Labour Party in 2006 when it denied her a chance to run in the 2007 general election as then-TD Michael D Higgins' running mate. The election to succeed Mr Higgins as president is set to take place in late October or early November. A left-wing TD and barrister, Ms Connolly is an ally of former MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace and has been outspoken on issues including Ireland's neutrality, women's rights and the war in Gaza. She told the Galway City Tribune she will formally launch her election campaign next week. 'My mind is made up to run,' she said, citing 'support from across the spectrum' while adding 'Labour and Sinn Féin are still completing their own internal processes which I fully respect'. Fine Gael has opened its nominations process with former European commissioner Mairead McGuinness widely tipped to enter the race. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are still deliberating on their approach.
