Sharon Keogan: Presidential nomination process a 'partisan stitch-up'
Sharon Keogan criticised the nomination process for the Irish presidential election, calling it a "clothes shop" and a "partisan stitch-up". She accused directives from Tornish to Simon Harris instructing Fine Gael councillors to block nominations of independent presidential candidates, and argued this undermines democracy.
Allegations of party control
She accused party leaders of using directives and whipping councillors to prevent independent candidates from being nominated, describing such tactics as an abuse of party power and an insult to democracy and pluralism.
Impact on independent candidates and voter choice
She warned that the actions of party machines shut out independent voices and the Irish people, allowing only party-chosen candidates on the ballot and creating what she called a coronation by the political establishment.
County council proceedings and media conduct
She noted a split in county council nominations, saying some councils were professional and thorough while others showed hostile and venomous questioning of candidates with differing views. She also said mainstream media displayed similar hostility toward non-establishment voices.
Call for reform and warning of social consequences
She urged reform of the nomination process or of political behaviour, insisting the process must be opened to all who wish to serve. She warned that continued partisan and ideological chauvinism will make society more toxic, bitter and divided and that in the long run everyone will lose.
Closing remarks and repeated phrases
Her speech concluded with a sequence of repeated phrases as transcribed: "Gauravmaygut. Gauravmaygut. Gauravmaygut. númeroaffen. Gauravmaygut. Gauravn. Gauravany. Gauravs. Gauravs."
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Thank you. Today I rise with a deep sense of frustration and disappointment in the state of our so-called democracy. The current nomination process for the Irish presidential election has become nothing short of a clothes shop. A club for the political elite where the will of the people is secondary to the interests of party machines. Let us call it what it is, a partisan stitch-up. The directives from Tornish to Simon Harris instructing Fine Gael councillors to block the nomination of any independent presidential candidates is a blatant abuse of party power. It is an insult to the very principles of democracy and pluralism that we are supposed to uphold. When party leaders whip their councillors to toe the line, they are not just shutting out independent voices, they are shutting out the Irish people. This is not just a Fine Gael problem. Many others have sadly followed suit. Ensuring that only their chosen candidate can make it on to the ballot. This partisanship is not only on the basis of party, but it is also following the line of ideology. In the county council's nominations, while many of the councils were professional and thorough in their questions, others showed an alarming level of hostile and venom towards candidates whose views are different from their own. We sadly saw the same across our mainstream media. If we truly believe in democracy, then we must either reform this process or reform ourselves. We must open the doors of Aarison Ucran to all who wish to serve, not just those with the blessing of party headquarters. The Irish people deserve a real choice, not a coronation by the political establishment. Those who think they have won today by their partisan tactics will be sorely mistaken, because in the long run, this illiberal party and ideological chauvinism will make our society more toxic, bitter and divided. And then we will all lose. Gauravmaygut. Gauravmaygut. Gauravmaygut. númeroaffen. Gauravmaygut. Gauravn. Gauravany. Gauravs. Gauravs.
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