Votes for Fine Gael are votes for Von Der Leyen, says Ó Ríordáin

Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said that a vote for Fine Gael in June’s local elections is a vote for Ursula Von Der Leyen.

Ó Ríordáin, who is seeking a seat for Labour in the upcoming European elections said that a vote for Fine Gael in June would in turn mean a vote for controversial European Union Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen.

Fine Gael have selected Senator Regina Doherty as their candidate for Europe.

Von Der Leyen, head of the European People’s Party which is Fine Gael’s grouping in the European parliament, has come under fire in recent months for her stance on the Israel-Gaza war.

The Labour TD said that the Socialists and Democrats group, of which Labour is a member, “is the only group that can challenge the ideology of the EPP led by Ursula Von Der Leyen and Labour will fight for every vote in June.”

“We are also particularly concerned about her remarks calling for a Defence Commissioner. A vote for Fine Gael is a vote for military-minded, insular, defence-focused Commission, which we utterly oppose.”

Ó Ríordáin took issue with Von Der Leyen’s stance on the war in the Middle East, saying that “her interventions on Gaza in particular have not been representative of Ireland’s position as she has continued to support Israel despite their ongoing bombardment.”

“The European project was founded out of a desire to end war and secure peace. Von Der Leyen’s rhetoric and actions have shown she does not represent this. She clearly has no aspirations for real peace, and this Fine Gael Government are supporting that.”