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March to be held in Dublin this weekend against prospect of FF/FG government

A march against the prospect of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael forming the next government is being p...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

14.18 6 Mar 2020


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March to be held in Dublin thi...

March to be held in Dublin this weekend against prospect of FF/FG government

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

14.18 6 Mar 2020


Share this article


A march against the prospect of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael forming the next government is being planned this weekend.

The march in Dublin city centre on Saturday afternoon is being organised by Solidarity-People Before Profit, who are urging people to back their call for change.

Government formation talks are ongoing between a variety of different parties, and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin yesterday indicated he would be willing to go into a coalition with Fine Gael.

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Sinn Féin, meanwhile, is continuing its efforts to form a left-wing government.

The make-up of the 33rd Dáil means any government will likely need the involvement of the two main parties, but both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ruled out the prospect of an agreement with Sinn Féin.

People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about tomorrow's planned march.

She explained: "We had a gathering of people from various campaigns - to do with housing, health, workers' rights, farmers, Bord Na Móna workers - about two weeks ago to look at the outcome of the election.

"We came to the conclusion that it looked very much like there could be a stitch-up between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to run the next government - and this is exactly what people did not vote for."

'Change, change, change'

Deputy Smith said the results of the election showed there was a clear appetite for change and for a government not dominated by the two traditionally largest parties.

She observed: "That message was so loud that even Micheál Martin is talking about 'change, change, change' now - something that his [party's governments] hadn't delivered over the previous decades.

"Of course I accept the parliamentary arithmetic - I'm not a far-right agitator, and I accept democracy and how it works.

"[But] the reality is that this election was historically fought on the basis of a desire for change - a desire to break the cycle of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael... What we're saying is that we want that change."

Deputy Smith says she doesn't believe a Fine Gael / Fianna Fáil coalition would be illegitimate, and she wouldn't be declaring a 'coup d'état' if that is the outcome of government formation efforts.

However, she said such a government would likely see protests against their policies - and noted that tomorrow's event is aimed at 'setting down a marker'.

Main image: People Before Profit's Bríd Smith. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

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