Greens make historic decision to go for government.

	Green Party delegates vote with an 86% majority to join Fianna Fail in the formation of the 30th Dail CitiZenJon reports Green Party members, 510 members to be exact, traveled from all over the country today to attend a specially convened conference to debate and vote on proposals from the majority party Fianna Fail to enter a coalition to form the next government. Outside the Mansion House party faithful and protesters alike waited eagerly for the results of delegates’ decision. After the vote, press were invited inside to hear the decision. The packed hall, hushed to silence as the announcement was made. A majority of 86% voted to accept FF’s proposals. Green leader, Trevor Sargent, also announced he would be stepping down as leader, following his campaign statement that he would not go into government with FF.
CitiZenJon reports from the Green Pary Conference
Greens leader Trevor Sargent was swarmed by media who jostled and jigged for position to question Mr. Sargent on his decision to step down.During the electoral campaign Sargent had repeatedly stated that he would not go into government with Fianna Fail. Sargent, showing a largesse rarely seen in Irish politics, decided to step down to pave the way for the party to enter government tomorrow when the 30th Dail convenes to create the new government cabinet. The Greens compromised on several policy issues such as the use of Shannon airport by US troops on their way to Iraq and on the contentious route of the new M3 motorway through the historic Tara area.They also had to step back from opposing the co-location of public and private hospitals on private land which they had vociferously opposed during the election. As debate raged inside over the policy compromises conceded by the party, outside protesters waited quietly. The sudden about-turn on these ‘core’ issues has generated serious debate among their constituents. The decision by the Greens will allow the party to enter government for the first time in their 25 year history.
	Sargent announces his resignation from the leadership of Greens

The Eagle has landed

Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern cranks up the race for government today as the Fianna Fail hustings arrives at the GPO CitiZenJon reports There was an air of expectation at 11:30 today as journalists, photographers, cameramen and the party faithful awaited the arrival of Fianna Fail’s Bertie Ahern outside the GPO on O’Connell Street. As David Davin-Power basked in the mid-day sunshine and cameras jostled for position I took the opportunity to catch a few shots of Bertie as he arrived to cheers and heckles from the crowd. Several onlookers called, “Where’s your 80 grand.” Another chanted: “You’re wrecking this country.” But party members and passers-by cheered as the Taoiseach alighted from his car and began shaking hands and clapping backs to all and sundry. Bertie then entered the GPO, nimbly ducking and diving the swarm of media, for a quick photo opportunity with employees before racing out to meet Dubliners on the city’s main thoroughfare.

Bertie on hustings through Dublin city centre

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It was like a carnival as the Taoiseach zig-zagged across Henry Street greeting bemused pedestrians, pausing briefly for the myriad photographers before moving on. One eastern European girl said, “Who was he?” after he had vigorously grasped her by the hand. A plain-clothes organiser of the event tried to cajole a shy shop assistant to hand the leader an umbrella and say “You might need this”, a stage managed moment, but the girl in question was shy and backed away. The organiser, lost his temper and said, “For f**k sake you’re useless.” before racing on to scout the next photo op. Bertie’s nimbleness was impressive as he turned down Moore Street, shaking hands with fruit sellers. Another lady presented the Taoiseach with a bunch of flowers and Bertie kissed her and gave her a hug as cameras flashed in unison. Next stop was the fishwives of Moore Street where the Taoiseach and his entourage laughed nervously when someone joked, “there’s something fishy going on Bertie.” But the bevy of photographers kept snapping just the same.

Bertie Ahern meets the public on Henry street

YouTube and Democracy: politics embraces the Internet

It seems the political parties are finally catching up with the runaway sprint that is d’Internet. Puffing, gasping-red faced with gut hanging out, and lagging 15 laps behind, the fellas up in City Hall have finally got the message; yes, the internet can help you in the race for the Oireachtas.

One invaluable innovation is You Tube: a web site where one can post movies, albeit in a somewhat lower quality format. You Tube is fast becoming one of my daily ports of call (while I have my morning coffee and read the Guardian Unlimited) The Fianna Fail political parade definitely seems to be up for it. They posted the following film of their Ard Fheis only hours after it was broadcast, prime time, on RTE 1-Ireland’s national tv station.

Now, everybody always pats Bertie on the back after these tirades but to tell you the truth, I don’t believe Bertie has much going for him in the Oratory department. His speeches to the party faithful always seem a bit forced to me.

But hey why don’t you judge for yourself.

Bertie Addresses Fianna Fail Ard Fheis		A You Tube video released on d’Internet recently

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I found this recently on ABC about presidential nominee Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton.

2008 Campaign Goes Negative on YouTube

Unauthorized Anti-Clinton Ad Shows YouTube’s Potential ‘08 Influence

A striking, new and unauthorized negative campaign ad for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., that attacks his presidential nomination rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is the latest sensation on the popular video sharing site You Tube.The 74-second ad is a creative take on director Ridley Scott’s controversial 1984 Super Bowl commercial that launched Apple as a brash alternative to market leader IBM.

			If you only click one you tube on this blog, click this one A facinating insight into how politics, negative advertising and mud-slinging can damage electoral candidates in the U.S.

Election Franciase

On Sunday the French election took place with the three main front-runners, Zarcozy, Royale, and Bayreu set to slug it out for the role of future President du France. Each candidate has utilized the power of the internet to maximize the scope of their message. It seems that politicos are finally starting to realise the power and economy of the internet.

Here’s France’s favorite son Nickolas Sarcozy doing tete-a-tete with his arch reactionary rival Jean Marie Le Pen. Now many have accused Sarko (as he’s affectionately dubbed by the French) as a hot head but when it comes to giving as good as he gets, Sarky Sarko takes le tartelette. Voila !

A classic Sarcozy interview	Segolene talks on France’s most popular talk show

The Green Party

A disappointing year so far from greens

Trevor Sargent TD	John Gormley TD	Eamon Ryan TD	Paul Gogarty TD

I have been disappointed with the Greens performance so far this year. With so much ammunition (furnished by the current Fianna Fail government) concerning waste, water, power, the marine and overall poor investment in Ireland’s infrastructure one would have thought they would have been one of the most vocal parties in the Dail. The Irish Times, Ireland’s paper of record has predicted big things for 2007.

Five years ago, the Greens won six Dáil seats with slightly less than four per cent of the vote and if opinion poll figures carry though to the current election, they could end up with 10 or more TDs this time around. At this stage of the proceedings, the Greens look like an essential component of any secure Rainbow coalition and will very likely find themselves being wooed by Fianna Fáil at the same time.

Sargent has said he will step down if the Greens go in with Fianna Fáil, it seems like this habit is catching, but that he is willing to serve as a minister in such a coalition. It’s an intriguing, some would say jesuitical, proposition from Sargent who is generally seen as a choir-boy innocent in the cynical hurly-burly of Irish politics.

The Green leader showed up at Dunlaoghire to the farmers’ market to comment on ‘organic sellers’

Segolene Royal

The Socialist representative in this years French election Segolene Royal has caused deep feelings in both the right and the left. Even the middle ground-and pollster predict this will be the deciding demographic are beginning to be polarized by the pretty brunette politician.On 7 April 2006, Royal launched an Internet electoral campaign at Désirs d’avenir (“Desires of a future”), publishing the first of ten chapters of her political manifesto. The campaign — which allowed contributions by visitors in order to help “complete” the book — was designed to help Royal produce a document which was to be published in September 2006, two months before the Socialist Party elected her its presidential candidate. She’s clearly doing something right, her internet campaign, her squeaky clean image as the all-French first woman candidate, has intrigued the centre and far left. But the centre right and far right have become incensed by her consistent avoidance of tackling real issues, such as taxation, the 35 hour working week, and the failing French economy. Many have criticised Royal for not having a ‘real’ policy to deal with these issues.

The 52-year-old regional premier of Poitou-Charentes soared in popularity after she came under sneering attack last year from male politicians from within her own party.

Yet, as if to prove the difficulties for any woman going for the top job in French politics, the French media has occasionally focused on such burning questions as whether or not she should have worn high heels on this or that foreign trip. So, is Ms Royal really a realistic candidate for the French presidency?

French elections 2007 expected to be a humdinger

The 2007 French presidential election represents generational change and is being held to elect the successor of incumbent Jacques Chirac as president of France for a five-year term. The next president will be the first born after World War II and the first not to have been in politics under Charles de Gaulle. The first round of voting takes place on Sunday, 22 April 2007.

With a population of 64 million the results of the first round may see Nicolas Sarkozy and Ségolène Royal qualify for the second round. François Bayrou is hotly expected to give both the main candidates a run for their money and especially the extreme right Jean-Marie Le Pen will be watching the polls carefully to find out who comes out first and second.

Here is Royal on France 24 fending off her detractors.

Fianna Fail

Bertie Ahern Boss	Dermot Ahern	Michael Ahern	Noel Ahern	Liam Aylward	Seamus Brennan

The Usual Suspects

Notice the first four pictures are all Ahern’s. So, granted, they’re not all related, but it does suggest to me that Fianna Fail is a big family.

They have also governed Ireland through the country’s economic boom (although many attribute this to EU subsidies kickstarting this growth). The money factor will be a big BIG factor in the upcoming election in Ireland and I am confident that they will make much of this in their election manifesto.

However, FF have been dogged by controvercies (Haugheygate, Laylorgate etc.) and much is made of the entrenched attitude of government to transparency of its institutions. Tribunals have been numerous and damaging for the ruling party. But when it comes to track record, as Clinton said, “It’s all about the economy stupid.”

Fine Gael

Enda Kenny	Catherine Byrne	Deirdre Clune	Jerry Buttimer	Simon Coveney	Anne Martin

The Fine Gael candidates with the exception of the decidedly luscioius Anne-Marie Martin are seasoned veterans. They’ve got a lot of talent on their team. Simon Coveney MEP TD is a great orator and I’m looking forward to seeing how he holds up in the media circus that is sure to get going once Bertie announces the date of the election.

Their campaign will be bringing up issues to do with the following…

•  Stamp duty for first time buyers
• The health service (the hot potato of our times)
• Education
• Crime (The Gael will tackle gangland murders head on)
• Marine and the environment (their stance on Ireland’s spiraling waste issue is indistinct and implausable)

Nickolas Sarkozy

	“I want to appeal to both sides of the political debate” Sarkozy at a recent gathering of supporters, called for the centre, which will be the deciding vote in France’s upcoming presidential election, to vote for him. Sarko, as he is known was born on 28 January 1955 in Paris, France), is a French politician, and the head of the centre-right party UMP, the French conservative party. He is often nicknamed Sarko by both his French supporters and opponents. Nicolas Sarkozy qualified to face the Socialist candidate, Ségolène Royal, in the May 6 runoff election. One of the two will be the next President when Jacques Chirac leaves the Élysée Palace on May 16.
The leading candidate in France’s upcoming election, the right-wing Nicolas Sarkozy

Until March 26, 2007, he had served as the Minister of the Interior of France (a position similar to the Home Office in the United Kingdom). His immediate post before was finance minister after a prior stint at Interior.

A controversial figure in France, he is known for his tough stance on law and order, and his admiration for a new economic model for France, suggesting that the country should have a more liberalised economy.