25 parties and they are NOT all the same

Voters fed up with the old-style right, left and centre parties do have a political selection box of alternatives

IRELAND used to be known for having a two-and-a-half party system – but recent events prove that the political spectrum in this country is changing.

Voters who are fed up with old-style politics of the right, left and centre will have numerous alternatives when it comes to the next general election.

The State’s Register of Political Parties shows that an astonishing 25 parties are now registered, including two centre parties – Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – and 10 left-wing parties.

In an indication of the occasionally factionalised nature of left or left-leaning politics, these parties include Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, Aontú, the Workers’ Party, the Communist Party of Ireland, the Workers and Unemployed Action Group, the Right to Change Party and Independents 4 Change.

And in a sign of the altered nature of our political culture – demonstrated by the angry protests outside the Dáil last month – there are three anti-immigration parties.

Hermann Kelly from the Irish Freedom Party has already told the Irish Mail on Sunday that the party plans to field a slew of candidates around the country.

The party president said: ‘Eighteen people have gone through a first-round test and selection. But that’s not the final number as we are engaged in an ongoing process.’

Several other parties – among them the Kerry Independent Alliance, the Green splinter environmental party Fís Nua, the Party for Animal Welfare, and United People – aim to offer voters a different perspective.

Some of the political alternatives have proved rather hard to contact – a problem that might not enhance their electoral chances.

The Kerry Independent Alliance appear to be confining their ambitions to the Kingdom.

But, responding to queries from the Irish Mail on Sunday, the founder of United People, Louthbased Jeff Rudd, said: ‘United People stands for better democracy, greater accountability combined with all policies adopted at local and national government level.’

Mr Rudd was anxious to stress: ‘We are unquestioningly antidiscrimination of every kind.

‘Let me be very clear. We want nothing to do with the extreme fringes that are sadly out there – thankfully that are not mass supported,’ he added.

He continued: ‘We wish to provide a fresh, clean centre-based alternative, one not steeped in historic corruption or attached to it by questionable elected enablers.’

He explained how he hoped to achieve this: ‘Ultimately, through a process called “participatory democracy” (similar to Switzerland), we hope to enable greater people power so that all elected – at all levels – are far more accountable, all year, every year, to citizens, regardless of demographic or other distinction.’

Mr Rudd, somewhat modestly, told the Journal at the founding of his party: ‘I’m not a professional politician. I’m an average plonker that’s trying to do his best.’

Fís Nua’s prospects are uncertain, given that the party does not have a leader and has not contested an election since 2016.

The Party for Animal Welfare claims that its core priority is ‘improving the rights of animals in Ireland and a better world for all animals’.

So far, the party has confined its activities to ‘organising a number of meetings and protests’.

But, responding to queries from the Irish Mail on Sunday, the leadership have said that they will be dipping their toes into the country’s choppy political waters, initially for the local elections.

Party spokesman Gearóid O’Dowd said: ‘We are planning to run in the locals – 10, possibly 15 candidates.’

Mr O’Dowd revealed some of the party’s key policies which they are keen to advance.

‘There should be a separate Department of Agriculture for animal protection. We see a clear conflict of interest,’ he said.

He added: ‘We also favour a separate Garda unit for the protection of animals, and we would like to see a doubling of animal inspectors.’

‘I’m an average plonker trying to do his best’