At 5:30 am today the 8th of June, Joe Higgins was elected as the first Socialist Party MEP. This is a tremendous achievement, that a campaign which relied almost completely on volunteers and small donners could defeat Fianna Fail. Joe Higgins would like to thank all those who supported his campaign and voted for him.
This victory comes as the result of tireless campaigning on the part of supporters as well as members of the Socialist Party. It reflects the seething anger at the government and political establishment in ireland.
Here is Joe Higgins’ speech to the media after winning is available here
Joe Higgins’ victory shows the potential for candidates putting forward a clear socialist alternative to achieve real success. His record of fighting for working people – including being jailed for 1 month in opposition to bin charges in 2003, leading the victorious campaign against water charges in 1997, and his leading role in the fight against the super-exploitation of mirgant labour in the 2005 GAMA dispute – while a TD (MP) between 1997 and 2007, during which time he received only the average workers’ wage has won him and the Socialist Party widespread respect and support.
As well as this, the Socialist Party also won 6 seats in local couincil elections, gaining an extra two seats. All in all it is a tremendous victory.
Thanks to Brian Greene (http://www.briangreene.com/) for images & recording.
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