Fianna Fail to join Liberals in Europe

[David Cochrane]

At the FF Ard Fheis tonight, An Taoiseach announced that FF will join Liberal grouping in the European Parliament.

The Liberals (ALDE) include Ireland MEP Marian Harkin and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland.

[Destiny's Soldier]

At the FF Ard Fheis tonight, An Taoiseach announced that FF will join Liberal grouping in the European Parliament.

The Liberals (ALDE) include Ireland MEP Marian Harkin and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland.

Are you saying April 1st has been superimposed on the 27th of February?

[Big Bobo]

How important exactly are these pan-european groups?

[spidermom]

Bertie the socialist be turning in his ?????_(leg cast I suppose)

[Bobert]

How important exactly are these pan-european groups?

They aren't Pan European Groups, they are Parliament groups. And very.

[Big Bobo]

They aren't Pan European Groups, they are Parliament groups. And very.

I presume they are organised beyond the parliament. And how exactly are they very important? What difference will it make to anyone in Ireland what group FF are part of?

[Destiny's Soldier]

Well if it is true it was never put to the grass roots for discussion. Sounds just like Cowen.

As an FFer, the best thing that could happen to Fianna Fail is for 1/2 the current bunch of FF TDs to loose their seats. And I would like to see ALL the front bench loose theirs.

But if people think FF are bad, it will be as bad or worse under FG and Labour.

Ireland needs reconstruction from top to bottom.

[Big Bobo]

Well if it is true it was never put to the grass roots for discussion. Sounds just like Cowen.

As an FFer, the best thing that could happen to Fianna Fail is for 1/2 the current bunch of FF TDs to loose their seats. And I would like to see ALL the front bench loose theirs.

But if people think FF are bad, it will be as bad or worse under FG and Labour.

Ireland needs reconstruction from top to bottom.

Ireland needs to break with the market and plan its economy

[Herodotus]

Ireland needs to break with the market and plan its economy

LOL, I am a left of centre man and I find that idea stupid. A certain amount of Liberal economics are necessary to create wealth and provide the things like free health care and education which are vital tenets of Socialism.

[Earnest]

The other parties there are:
Austria
Die Liberalen
Belgium
Mouvement Réformateur (free-enterprise liberals)
Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (free-enterprise liberals)
Bulgaria
Movement for Rights and Freedoms
National Movement for Stability and Progress
Cyprus
Independent
Denmark
Det Radikale Venstre (left-of-centre liberals)
Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti (free-enterprise liberals)
Estonia
Eesti Keskerakond
Eesti Reformierakond
Finland
Suomen Keskusta (former agrarian party)
Svenska folkpartiet (party for Swedish minority)
France
Avenir Démocrate
Mouvement Démocrate
Germany
Freie Demokratische Partei (free-enterprise liberals)
Hungary
Szabad Demokraták Szövetsége
Ireland
Independent
Italy
Partito Democratico (amalgamation of ex-Communists and ex-Christian Democrats)
Radicali Italiani/Lista Bonino (very radical)
Latvia
Savienîba "Latvijas Celð"
Lithuania
Darbo partija
Liberalų ir centro sąjunga
Lietuvos Respublikos Liberalų Sąjūdis
Luxembourg
Parti démocratique (free-enterprise liberals)
Netherlands
Democraten 66 - (left-of-centre liberals, right-wing breakaway from Labour)
Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (free-enterprise liberals)
Poland
Partia Demokratyczna
Romania
National Liberal Party
Slovenia
Liberalna Demokracija Slovenije
Spain
Convergència Democràtica Catalunya (Catalan regional party)
Partido Nacionalista Vasco (Basque regional party)
Sweden
Centerpartiet (formerly agrarian party)
Folkpartiet liberalerna (left-of-centre liberals)
United Kingdom
Liberal Democrat Party (amalgamation of left-of-centre party and right-wing breakaway from Labour)

I haven't checked them all out, but they look a little all over the place, held together by a liberal tradition which normally includes things like civil rights and the separation of church and state. A logical enough place for the PDs: with the PDs departing the scene, does this mean Fianna Fail are trying to take their place? Or is it more likely sheer opportunism?