Sharon Keogan (Independent)

I rise with a deep sense of frustration and disappointment at the state of our so-called democracy. The current nomination process for the Irish presidential election has become nothing short of a closed shop, a club for the political elite where the will of the people is secondary to the interests of party machines. Let us call it what it is - a partisan stitch-up. The directives from the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, instructing Fine Gael councillors to block the nomination of any independent presidential candidates is a blatant abuse of party power. It is an insult to the very principles of democracy and pluralism that we are supposed to uphold. When party leaders whip their councillors to toe the line, they are not just shutting out independent voices, they are shutting out the Irish people. This is not just a Fine Gael problem. Many others have sadly followed suit, ensuring that only their chosen candidate can make it onto the ballot. This partisanship is not only on the basis of party. It is also following the line of ideology. In the county councils' nominations, while many of the councillors were professional and thorough in their questions, others showed an alarming level of hostility and venom towards candidates whose views differed from their own. We sadly saw the same across our mainstream media. If we truly believe in democracy, then we must either reform this process or reform ourselves. We must open the doors of Áras an Uachtaráin to all who wish to serve, not just those with the blessing of party headquarters. The Irish people deserve a real choice, not a coronation by the political establishment. Those who think they have won today by their partisan tactics will be sorely mistaken. In the long run, this illiberal party and ideological chauvinism will make our society more toxic, bitter and divided, and then we will all lose.