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Irish Government & Politics Political Parties and Elections

Irish Government & Politics Political Parties and Elections. Introduction. The structural cleavages that gave birth to the Irish party system – pro and anti treaty – are the same ones that serve as the basis for party divisions today.

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Irish Government & Politics Political Parties and Elections

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  1. Irish Government & PoliticsPolitical Parties and Elections

  2. Introduction • The structural cleavages that gave birth to the Irish party system – pro and anti treaty – are the same ones that serve as the basis for party divisions today. • Despite the pro and anti Treaty relevance subsiding over the years, both parties seem to have maintained the permanence of Conservatives/Labour and Republican/Democrats elsewhere. • Fianna Fail and Fine Gael dubbed the ‘catchall parties’ – pointing to the notion that the Irish party system reflects no obvious social divisions or cleavages

  3. Fianna Fail • Early Fianna Fail policies were in tune with Irelands economic concerns after the economic crisis worldwide in the 1920’s and advocated a ‘Protectionist’ policy, an economic strategy of self sufficiency, and introduced new welfare measures (unemployment benefit). • Post war Fianna Fail position was ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’ (Sean Lemass) and implemented a ‘corporatist’ approach by emphasising the need for strong government (which, of course, only they could give), need for economic growth and need for social solidarity. Aim was to stop attempts at translating social conflicts into politics (and therefore stop the rise of Fine Gael and Labour).

  4. Fianna Fail • 1992 produced the worst vote for FF since its inception in 1927. • A major ‘watershed’ for the party. • Acceptance that although they might be the largest party they will never have a single party majority in Dail. • Led to a Fianna Fail/Labour coalition – with a centre-left policy programme that resulted in economic success (high growth, low inflation) and success in N. Ireland (Downing Street Declaration, and IRA ceasefires). •  Government collapse in 1994 over Beef Tribunal and judicial appointments – Fine Gael/Labour/Democratic Left Coalition (no election necessary)

  5. Fine Gael • In 1933, the National Centre Party, Cumann na nGaelheal and the National Guard (aka the Blue Shirts) merged to form Fine Gael. • Party of the Treaty, of law and order, of allegiance to the Commonwealth (thus more attractive to business people, middle classes, and more wealthy farmers who depended on Britain for trading purposes). • Has always remained a more class based party than Fianna Fail, despite support from urban, rural, areas.

  6. Labour Party • Third party but, in fact, the oldest of the three. • Formally launched in 1912 and developed into a full political organisation in 1922. • Failed to develop into a major party because of the salience of the national question which dominated Irish politics in the early days, and in which the Labour party chose not to take a stand, and because of their decision not to take part in the 1918 elections for tactical reasons was a mistake. • 1998 merger with Democratic Left

  7. Progressive Democrats • Resulted from a division within Fianna Fail over Northern Ireland policy in 1985 • Replaced Labour as the 3rd largest party in the Dail in the 1980’s with 12% of the electorate vote and 14 Dail seats.  • Adopted economic strategy of New Right – support for privatisation, rolling back the state, reducing welfare provision and large tax cuts (similar to Thatcher’s strategy in the UK). • Conservative economic policies but liberal stance on ‘moral’ issues yet still regarded as the most ‘conservative' Irish party.

  8. Party Competition • FF & FG regarded as two dominant parties • Since 1932 FF averages 46% votes & 74% seats • Since 1932 FG averages 31% votes and 48% seats

  9. Party Ideology • Fianna Fail & Fine Gael tend to group towards the centre of the political spectrum • Labour, Democratic Left, Greens, Workers Party, Sinn Fein all to the left of Fianna Fail • Progressive Democrats to the right of Fine Gael.

  10. Changes in the Party System • First watershed was 1927 when Fianna Fail decided to take its Dail seats as opposed to its previous policy of abstentionism. Politics was war by other means in this context. • Second watershed was 1948 with the “Fianna Fail versus the rest” strategy adopted by the smaller parties. • Third watershed in 1989 with Fianna Fails decision to enter a coalition with the Progressive Democrats – now proved willing to play the coalition game.

  11. Current Party System • Coalitions carries the Irish party system away from a British model, and more towards a European style. • Implication of this is that the voter may be essentially ‘voting in the dark’ not knowing if the party voted for will actually become government, given that this is a subject which is determined in the post election period among the different potential coalition members.

  12. In Comparison…. • Irish party system doesn’t fit into the more widely applicable models of party systems in Europe. (at least as far as the centre-right is concerned) • Almost all support for parties in Ireland (80%) is for parties of the political centre or the right (Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Progressive Democrats). Only 40% support for such parties in Europe. • Ireland has lowest record of electoral support for left wing parties. In the 1980’s and 1990’s Labour, Workers Party and Democratic Left collectively polled 14% of vote compared to 40% in Europe.

  13. In Comparison… • Fianna Fail – ‘secular conservative’ - other ‘secular conservative would be in the UK but are distinctly different from FF since they aren’t radical, popular, anti-establishment in terms of heritage, don’t traditionally represent the poor, don’t have strong links with trade unions etc. • Fine Gael – slightly less problematic. Listed as a ‘Christian Democratic party’ since it is a full member of the ‘European People’s Party’ but still similarities are not as close with such European parties because of their origins – they came from a minority in terms of religion, whereas Catholicism was the majority religion in Ireland.

  14. In Comparison • Clear distinction is that Irish parties grew out of a civil war and conflict and the European parties grew out of class struggle and struggles for social and political rights. • Almost no other country in Europe had experience of two warring factions go on to become legitimate political parties and contest each other electorally. • Ireland may be closer to US than Europe since US parties grew out of civil war and conflict also. • In comparative terms, coalition governments are the norm rather than the exception in Western European countries. Ireland is increasingly following this trend.

  15. Electoral System • Irish system is Proportional Representation (PR) using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) in multi-member constituencies, where each constituency returns between 3 and 5 TD’s. • Proportional Representation Society of Ireland was formed in early 20th century – Arthur Griffiths one of its first members. • British government decided to hold PR-STV for local elections in 1920, and then for the 1921 election under the Government of Ireland Act.  • Natural choice – offered possibility of minority representation; suited anti-party mood of people at the time (party’s were not even mentioned on the ballot paper until 1965).

  16. Electoral Reform? • Fianna Fail reforms suggest plurality system in 1950’s • Referendum defeated De Valera’s proposals by 48% in favour to 52% against (1959) • Referendum put forward AGAIN on this issue in 1968. Opposition more confident this time – 39%in favour and 61% against reform. • Suits coalition parties because votes can be transferred to the other party easily. • Requires good ‘vote management’ to optimise success. • Proportional representation meant that small parties were always likely to emerge despite the strength of the two main parties.

  17. Electoral Issues… • STV system obliges politicians to compete not only against other parties but also against fellow politicians from their party – need to emphasise local, social and personal links with the electorate in order to gain support • Personal support is based on exchange of favours or illusion of favours – politicians acts as an intermediary between the person and the state. • PR-STV involves a notion of a connection between the politicians and his/her constituency that is much closer than the first past the post system.

  18. Political Corruption • Abuse of public office for private gain. • Beef Tribunal 1994 – Irish beef processing industry. Led to fall of government. • McCracken Tribunal 1997 – Charles Haughey found guilty of receiving £1m from Ben Dunne and not paying tax; Michael Lowry (FG Minister) also found guilty of similar endeavour. • Flood Tribunal 1997 – political corruption in planning; Dublin TD’s accepting money from property developers via lobbyists; evasion of taxes on money concerned.

  19. Political Corruption • Moriarity Tribunal 1997 – Haughey received over £8.5 m from various private sources to finance extravagant lifestyle; Ansbacher Account in offshore banking in Cayman Islands benefited Haughey and other prominent politicians. • DIRT Inquiry 1998 – Deposit Interest Retention Tax o be paid to the state by banks. Bogus bank accounts set up in ‘non residents’ names so as to evade paying DIRT.

  20. Conclusions • Party system is different from most European systems because it has not been based on social cleavages. • Coalition governments are now the norm in Irish politics. • Every party in the Dail is a potential coalition government partner – even a grand coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael seems more plausible now. • This may create problems for the Irish electorate. If all parties are coalitionable and if they remain politically unfaithful to their coalition partners, as has been illustrated in the past, then voters may not be able to choose between them. May avoid the choice altogether by choosing not to vote.

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