Sinn Fein at a crossroads

Posted by Jim on November 5, 2018

A very poor performance by Sinn Fein in the 26 County Presidential
election is causing alarm within the party over its political leadership
and direction.

Sinn Fein’s share of the vote dropped sharply as Liadh Ni Riada secured
just 6% of ballots counted, compared with 14% for Martin McGuinness in
2011. Ni Riada finished fourth, behind Michael D Higgins, Peter Casey
and Sean Gallagher, and polled as low as 3% in east Galway and south
Dublin.

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald, who replaced Gerry Adams in February,
defended her decision to contest the election, the first in seven years,
rather than giving Michael D Higgins a second term without challenge.

But the Dublin Central TD’s plan to capitalise on her party’s recent
campaign in favour of abortion — the single most divisive issue in
Irish politics — failed when hoped-for new supporters failed to
materialise. Instead, a tranche of conservative-minded supporters looks
to have jumped ship, perhaps for good.

The candidacy of Liadh Ni Riada, a fluent Irish speaker steeped in
Gaelic culture, had potential. Ms Ni Riada had hoped to start a debate
on Irish reunification, but that was compromised early on by her vow to
wear a poppy, a symbol of the British Army and its worst atrocities in
Ireland.

A number of factors have been put forward by the Sinn Fein’s leadership
for the loss of almost two-thirds of its support. None have mentioned
its goal of converting the organisation from a radical republican
movement into a centre-left partner in a coalition government, which is
at the heart of its current crisis.

On social media, a new wave of Sinn Fein ‘dissidents’ have expressed
their frustration over the leadership’s direction, as well as
revelations that certain party figures are earning salaries far greatly
than previously disclosed.

Despite the electoral setback, the party leadership continues to
accelerate away from its republican roots.

Questioned about her party’s poor performance by one television
reporter, Ms McDonald dismissed his concerns while wearing a scarf
inexplicably bedecked in poppies. She also posed for photographs this
week with the former RUC chief Drew Harris, notorious in the north of
Ireland for his role in covering up state killings.

Sinn Fein has long dismissed internal dissent as “growing pains”
resulting from its efforts to rebuild the party across the island, but a
contraction now appears far more likely. If last week’s performance was
repeated in a general election, the party could lose up to two-thirds of
its seats in the Dublin parliament.

A number of Sinn Fein supporters said they voted for Peter Casey, who
grabbed headlines with his derogatory comments aobut Travellers and
social welfare recipients, shocking liberals but winning the attention
of many.

If the party is to avoid a prolonged contraction, it will be hoping that
that is merely an act of protest — out of boredom, as some commentators
have suggested. One hopeful indication is that the large personal vote
for President Higgins is unlikely to be a factor in future elections.

But the question for Sinn Fein’s elected representatives remains: are
they willing to risk another election with Mary Lou McDonald still in
charge?