Socialist Party in Ireland wins parliamentary seat


Ruth Coppinger elected for Dublin West

The Socialist Party in Ireland has won a significant success with the election of Ruth Coppinger in a byelection to the Dáil, the Irish parliament. Ruth’s electoral district is Dublin West, where she has been a local councillor. Socialist Party member Joe Higgins is a also a Dáil member for Dublin West.

This victory was the result of the Socialist Party’s campaigning work over years, the undermining of support for establishment capitalist politicians and the recent collapse in support for the Irish Labour Party as a result of being in a pro-austerity coalition government with Fine Gail.

Under the Irish system of transferable votes the counting of the votes in Friday’s election took all day Saturday.

Irish Times report:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/socialist-party-s-ruth-coppinger-wins-dublin-west-byelection-1.1808102

Further material on this success will be published on the website of the CWI later.