Anarchists play key role in Fianna Fail election victory

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday May 19, 2002 00:46 by MadAnarchist - Anarchists for fianna fail

Anarchists across Ireland have helped keep left wing, green and anti fianna fail votes at home helping to ensure the re-election of Fianna Fáil to power.

In a major political development it has been revealed that Irish anarchists have played a critical role in helping Fianna Fail back to power. Indeed as fianna fail approach an overall majority an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has commented on how Irish anarchists were a key part of the Fianna Fáil vote strategy.

Speaking at the Fianna Fáil election centre, Bertie said: "I'd just like to thank the Irish anarchists for helping to secure this historic Fianna Fáil landslide. Not only did anarchists stay at home and not turn out to vote against Fianna Fáil - they actually ran a campaign encouraging other likely protest voters to stay at home. While there are many anarchists to thank - and I don't like to mention any in particular - I feel that I have to single out the Workers Solidarity Movement who deserve special praise. We couldn't have done it without them."

Speaking for the anarchists a spokesman said:
" we are particularly pleased with this result. Now nothing will change and people who are looking for change will defintely be discouraged. If they can't even get people out to vote for change - how do they possibly expect to be able to organise people in more active campaigns. This was a concerted and effective attempt to increase disempowerment and alienation - particularly amongst the young and the working classes and has been a spectacular and resounding success! The sooner we all except that there's no point trying to change things the better it will be for all of us.

All the same we are slightly discouraged by the gains made by the greens, sinn fein and others on the left. This now means that working class people and those looking for change may suffer from the illusion that change is possible. Perhaps in the next election we might actually ask people to come out and vote for Fianna Fáil"

In another side of the election Mary Harney has atributed part of the revival of the PD's to anarchists attempts to keep anti-PD voters at home. In particular she praised the targetting by anarchists of working class people in their campaign to keep the status quo.