Which party will benefit from Immigrant votes?

[5intheface]

A study carried out before the 2004 local elections highlighted that the main political parties had not given much thought to the potential votes from the immigrant population. This time around, they seem to have realised that hundreds of thousands of extra votes remain untapped among the new and not so new-comers and are using Polish language websites and multi-lingual election literature.

Many parties now have candidates who were born in different corners of the world (16 so far) and in Mulhuddart both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are fielding Nigerian born candidates.

Immigrants join in the political jousting - The Irish Times - Mon, Jan 26, 2009

So, who will benefit and indeed, who will suffer if many of these immigrants decide to move elsewhere or will the numbers be insufficient to have any great effect on results?

[DaBrow]

A study carried out before the 2004 local elections highlighted that the main political parties had not given much thought to the potential votes from the immigrant population. This time around, they seem to have realised that hundreds of thousands of extra votes remain untapped among the new and not so new-comers and are using Polish language websites and multi-lingual election literature.

Many parties now have candidates who were born in different corners of the world (16 so far) and in Mulhuddart both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are fielding Nigerian born candidates.

Immigrants join in the political jousting - The Irish Times - Mon, Jan 26, 2009

So, who will benefit and indeed, who will suffer if many of these immigrants decide to move elsewhere or will the numbers be insufficient to have any great effect on results?

Considering that people over here are really pissed off with the whole political spectrum in Ireland............ mainly because they were lied to about the impact of the Nice Treaty and having Lisbon rammed down their throats a second time.

I'd vote for the ICP or Libertas just to show my anger, immigrant candidates will only represent their own communities and not that of their constituency.

The Irish people feel very sold out by their own representatives, but I won't be suprised if all foreign candidates get voted in due to the same sort of bloc voting you find in Eurovision these days.

[5intheface]

Considering that people over here are really pissed off with the whole political spectrum in Ireland............ mainly because they were lied to about the impact of the Nice Treaty and having Lisbon rammed down their throats a second time.

I'd vote for the ICP or Libertas just to show my anger, immigrant candidates will only represent their own communities and not that of their constituency.

The Irish people feel very sold out by their own representatives, but I won't be suprised if all foreign candidates get voted in due to the same sort of bloc voting you find in Eurovision these days.

Would you feel that any of the parties are fielding immigrant candidates for the beneift of the communities from which they come or is it 100% measured to screw votes for themselves wherever they can be found?

[FutureTaoiseach]

In the US, 96% of African-Americans voted for Barack Obama according to exit-polls. In that context it is not racist to suggest Africans or people of African-origin might likewise vote for African-candidates. However I think the parties in this country are still resistant to running large numbers of foreign-nationals as candidates. The article states that only 16 foreign-nationals have been chosen so far. Whoa! The reality imho, is that the fatcats that fund FF and FG do not want foreign-nationals from poor countries having too much of a voice in our politics, because that would bring up issues pertinant to them, with respect to working-conditions and wage-exploitation. It's also very ironic that Labour, probably the most outspoken party on immigrant issues, has not chosen an African candidate. They are fine ones to be lecturing others on 'racism'.

[geraghd]

immigrant candidates will only represent their own communities and not that of their constituency.

Why do you say that? Is their constituency not by definition their community? How do you make the distinction?

[wysiwyg]

very few.. only a very small proportion of immigrants (well eastern european/african) actually vote

[garlandgreen]

How many have he right to vote more to the point

[irelandproud]

More umportant question is what party will benefit if they introduce a very tough immigration policy, theres massive support out there for such a party.

[FutureTaoiseach]

How many have he right to vote more to the point

Well all immigrants - including asylum-seekers - that are on the register are entitled to vote.

[Staropramen]

How many have he right to vote more to the point

Anyone who is legally resident in the state can vote in this years local elections.


Local and EU Elections 2009.