Democracy? FG doesn’t know the meaning of it!

The ‘democratic deficit’ is often mentioned when people are trying to explain how certain things happen in politics without much obvious public support.

Recent happenings in the Fine Gael party are a good example.

First, Enda Kenny clung on to the role of Taoiseach despite a majority of the voting public giving him the thumbs down at the last election. He was rescued by a one-time rival party propping him up, and labelling it the ‘new politics’.

We now have the ludicrous situation where Leo Varadkar is chosen as his successor despite getting a major thumbs-down from his own party members.

On this occasion, he was rescued by the Fine Gael politicians showing they were out of touch with their rank and file.

Yes, the ‘democratic deficit’ is alive and well – and it prospers in Fine Gael circles. Seán Ryan, Dundrum, Dublin 16.