National Alliance (Ireland)
National Alliance Comhaontas Náisiúnta | |
|---|---|
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| Leaders | Derek Blighe Patrick Quinlan Anthony Cahill |
| Founded | July 2024 |
| Ideology | Nationalism Anti-immigration |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Members |
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| Website | |
| nationalalliance | |
The National Alliance is an electoral alliance in Ireland formed to contest the 2024 Irish general election. It consists of three far-right and nationalist political parties: the National Party, Ireland First and The Irish People. Some independent candidates are also included in the alliance.[1][2]
History
[edit]The National Alliance was established in July 2024 after small far-right parties failed to achieve success in that year's European and local elections, partly due to vote splitting.[3][4]
The stated goal of the group is to ensure votes for far-right parties are not split in the next general election.[1] The group stated that, besides the National Party, Ireland First and The Irish People, other parties were also involved in discussions to join, but they had been "not willing to make the concessions ... needed to make the alliance work".[3] These included the Irish Freedom Party and Liberty Republic (formerly Direct Democracy Ireland).[citation needed]
The group is not a registered political party and its name will not appear on the ballot paper. The leader of the far-right Irish Freedom Party, Hermann Kelly, said his party did not join the National Alliance for this reason.[5] In September 2024, the Electoral Commission rejected an effort to change the name of The Irish People party to "National Alliance". The body ruled that it was "not an application to amend the name and emblem of an existing party, but rather constitutes an application to seek to register an alliance of a number of already registered political parties", which the Electoral Reform Act 2022 forbids.[1][6]
They are reportedly due to nominate at least 19 candidates in the 2024 general election.[1]
Organisation
[edit]As of October 2024, the group's leadership and election committee is led by Derek Blighe of Ireland First, Fingal County Council member Patrick Quinlan of the National Party and Anthony Cahill of The Irish People.[1]
Ideology
[edit]The alliance has been described as anti-immigrant and as having far-right views on immigration.[1][3] Some of the alliance's stated principles include "Ireland belongs to the Irish", "We have no other home, if there are no Irish, there is no Ireland" and "House the Irish, not the world".[1][7] Other positions the group has outlined include opposition to abortion, defending "the right to free speech",[8] and cutting funding to "subversive NGOs that undermine [Ireland's] national interests".[9]
See also
[edit]- Nationalist Alliance (UK)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g McQuinn, Cormac (12 October 2024). "Political parties with far-right views on immigration form alliance to maximise election chances". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Kavanagh, Adrian (10 July 2024). "Candidates for the 2024 General Election by Dáil constituency". Irish Elections: Geography, Facts and Analyses. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b c McCann, Debbie (22 September 2024). "Far-right's Dáil hopes marred by bitter in-fighting". Extra.ie. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ McDonald, Theo (17 October 2024). "Sinn Féin's implosion is no victory for the Irish Right". UnHerd. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ McQuinn, Cormac (12 October 2024). "Will alliance boost chances of anti-immigration candidates being elected as TDs?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Power, Annmarie (27 September 2024). "Decision Issued Regarding Register of Political Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Griffin, Donal; Duggan, Jennifer (5 October 2024). "Ireland's Anti-Migrant Rage Lands on a Hedge Fund Trader's Doorstep". BNN Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Bufacchi, Vittorio (27 October 2024). "Far-right political parties form alliance to contest general election". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Finnerty, Mike (30 October 2024). "Far-right alliance to contest general election". Dublin People. Retrieved 16 November 2024.