Red Statement: Vote Catherine Connolly For President, But Real Change Will Take A Fight

Independent Galway socialist Catherine Connolly has put herself forward for the Presidency. Her campaign can send a strong message to Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and their supporters like corrupt TD Michael Lowry.

Our people are suffering and no one in power gives a damn. That’s why it’s understandable that some working class people might tune out of the vote altogether. But you can use your vote send a strong message.

We can let the establishment know that we’re sick to death of their manufactured housing crisis, we’ve had it with homelessness and sky high rents. We can punish them for refusing to deal with the cost of living crisis.

We can let them know we see them for what they really are - puppets of the rich, loyal pets of the vulture funds, the corporations and the landlords.

But we have to be honest: the President is a powerless figurehead, trapped by ruling class rules and regulations that limit what they can actually do.

Michael D. Higgins was able to use the role to put some important issues into the media spotlight. But when the despised water charges bill came before Michael D. Higgins on Sunday December 28th 2014 he signed it despite massive street protests, direct action in our estates and opposition from TDs and Senators.

But what would have happened if he’d refused to sign it?

First, he’d have to have called a meeting of the “Council of State”. Who’s on the Council of State? The Taoiseach and Tánaiste, the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the High Court, the Attorney General, the chair of the Dáil and the chair of the Senate.

He wouldn’t have convinced them and even if he did, a bill is then sent to the Supreme Court under Article 26 only to check if it is “constitutional”. Once approved by the Supreme Court a bill can never be challenged again.

What about calling a referendum on the bill?

The President can only call a referendum on a bill if they consult the Council of State, have been petitioned by the whole Senate and at least a third of the Dáil. That’s why it’s never been used. Budgets are excluded from this process, so no President can ever challenge austerity.

What happens if they just refuse to sign a bill? Article 14.2 kicks in and a three person Presidential Commission just signs it anyway. The whole system is set up to prevent real change. It can only be challenged by working class people mobilising though mass protests and strikes.

Some on the left, like People Before Profit, will tell you that this election is a stepping stone to a left government that can change Ireland. Let’s be clear, we Reds want to see Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael kicked out of office, but a Sinn Féin led government that includes Labour, the Greens and the Social Democrats isn’t going to challenge the undemocratic machinery of the Irish state.

We’ve had a century of sham elections and rule by the same old establishment - if we’re going to clear them out let’s actually do it.

That’s why we’ve always told you the truth - we’d support a Sinn Féin led government on a case by case basis and from the opposition benches. That’s where you need to be to put pressure on Sinn Féin and the likes of Labour or the Social Democrats to deliver on the promises they’ve made, to continue to be a voice for the working class and to keep on fighting.

We Reds will fight on until we don’t just have fake democracy and sham elections but until the working class is in the driving seat of a 32 County Workers’ Republic.