Sinn Fein on Election results: `A profound change in Ireland’s political landscape’ The local and European elections saw a strong rise in support for Sinn Fein, with the party increasing its mandate in the local elections, north and south, and in the European elections where Sinn Fein candidates were returned in everyone of Ireland’s electoral areas, and Sinn Fein’s Martina Anderson and Lynn Boylan topping the poll in Belfast and Dublin respectively. Matt Carthy (North West and Midlands) and Liadh Ni Riadh (South were also elected as MEPs. Sinn Fein candidates topped the poll in council elections across Ireland, seeing the largest representation and vote for Sinn Fein since 1918, and with the party emerging as the largest single party on the island. In the European elections in the north Sinn Fein won 25.5 per cent – the largest party - and in the south, some 19.5 per cent overall, with Lynn Boylan polling 23 per cent. In the local elections in the north Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party with 24 per cent. Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party in a number of areas across Ireland, and in the cities of Belfast, Cork, Dublin and Derry. In the local elections in the 26 counties, Sinn Fein vote rose to 15.2 per cent overall. On 26 May, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said that voters had `endorsed Sinn Féin’s message that there is a fairer way’ and had rejected the consensus for cuts represented by Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil. Mr Adams said the result was also an endorsement for Sinn Fein’s message `of the need to reinvigorate the Peace Process and for an agreed, united Ireland’. He said the party had `trebled our local representation’. Sinn Fein’s newly elected MEPs `will stand up for Ireland’, he said, adding that Sinn Fein’s councillors `will fight for genuine community interests which put the needs of citizens first’. He said that the `huge vote’ for Sinn Fein marked `a profound change in the political landscape of this state’ and that it was wrong for the Government to dismisses this as a protest vote `or, as the Taoiseach claims, a sign of frustration by the electorate’. The Government had, Mr Adams said `been sent a very clear message’ that `they do not have public support for the damaging policies they are implementing’. He concluded: `he voters have called time on this government. They should change political direction or call a General Election.’ Gerry Adams also thanked all those who voted for the party and all those who stood for Sinn Féin throughout the island, North and South. He said that voters were `seeking a new kind of politics’. He added, `some combination of Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil has been in government since the foundation of the southern state. The old way of doing politics, as practiced by these parties has failed. People want change.’ He said that Sinn Féin was `involved in a historically unprecedented effort to build genuine republican politics in both states on this island. Building capacity and resources and membership is a big task for us and we will continue to grow.’ He appealed to people to `join Sinn Fein in building a citizen-centered, rights based republic on this island.’
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 19:27:07 +0000
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