Seán Kelly, a Member of European Parliament (MEP) for Ireland South, has expressed concern over Fine Gael’s prospects in the upcoming European elections. This is due to a decline in the party’s support and a surge in popularity for Sinn Féin.
Before heading to a conference of the European People’s Party (EPP) in Romania, Kelly pointed out that pre-polling data suggests a challenging climate for Fine Gael in trying to replicate their 2019 performance, where they secured five of Ireland’s 13 constituencies.
In a realistic assessment based on current trend, Kelly identified that the supporter base for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is appearing to be equal. However, with Sinn Féin gaining momentum and the people’s dissatisfaction over unresolved issues from their 13-14 years in government was making matters tough for Fine Gael. He emphasised the difficulty ahead yet expressed determination to contend for the seats.
The next round of European Parliamentary elections are set to be held in June, with the Irish population electing representatives for an increased 14 seats following a decision by the European Council to expand Parliament’s size.
MEP Deirdre Clune, who has opted not to seek re-election, although acknowledged the uncertainty of electoral outcomes, expressed her trust in Fine Gael’s capacity to maintain all five of their seats. She highlighted the importance of team effort, particularly at a grassroots level, in these elections.
The EPP acts a collective for centre-right parties across Europe, and includes Fine Gael from Ireland as well as ruling parties from diverse countries including Greece, Poland, Latvia, Croatia, Lithuania, Sweden, Romania, Finland and Luxembourg.
European Commission’s current head, Ursula von der Leyen is aiming for re-election and is set for a formal nomination as the EPP’s primary candidate for President during a vote to be held in Bucharest.
Mr Kelly and Ms Clune have reiterated their endorsement of Dr von der Leyen, despite the criticism she has received due to her position on the Israel-Hamas feud. Mr Kelly asserted that while everyone is prone to errors and Dr von der Leyen was no exception, she has mostly “nailed the major issues”, such as successfully rallying Europe amidst the Covid-19 crisis and denouncing Russia’s Ukrainian incursion.
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