Trouble as voting takes place in historic Euro election

Posted by Jim on May 24, 2019

Rioting took place in Derry on Thursday night as polls closed in the
election to the European Parliament and as British Prime Minister
Theresa May was said to be preparing to announce her resignation over
the collapse of support for her party.

Petrol bombs were thrown at the PSNI police in Glengalliagh Park after
they attended a bomb alert on Moss Road. The PSNI said the disorder had
been “orchestrated”.

The riot, a repeat of one that took place during local council
elections earlier this month, will increase pressure on multi-party
talks taking place in Belfast. Negotiations involving the Dublin and
London governments have so far failed to address the ongoing violence
in Derry.

The trouble came as voting was winding down in a closely-fought
election to elect three MEPs in the North and ahead of elections in the
26 Counties later today.

There is a chance that the Euro election could be the first in the
North in which the number of elected unionists falls to parity with
nationalists or even below, a result which could lead to renewed calls
for a border poll on Irish reunification.

MAY HEADS FOR THE EXIT

In Britain, the ruling Conservative Party looks set for an unprecedented
defeat, and British Prime Minister Theresa May is widely reported to be
expected to announce a timeframe for her resignation later today
[Friday].

It is reported that May will announce that she will quit as leader of
the Conservative Party early in June, staying on until after a state
visit by US President Donald Trump, and remaining as British Prime
Minister until her successor is chosen.

May’s demise became more certain this week as potential successors
forced her to postpone the planned publication of legislation for
Brexit and clarify her resignation date.

There was further controversy during voting in Britain on Thursday as
more than 500 EU citizens who believed they were registered voters were
refused the right to vote on the basis of technicalities. That number
included a small number of Irish people who fell foul of new,
Brexit-related bureaucracy over the voting rights of EU citizens. Labour
MP David Lammy said the development amounted to “ugly discrimination”
for people who had endured “three years of being insulted, exploited and
asked to apply to stay in their own homes”.

In the 26 Counties, voting begins later today in local and EU elections,
as well as a referendum on making divorce easier. There are 31 local
authorities, with a total of 949 seats. A total of 1,977 candidates are
running for election.

There are three Euro constituencies — Dublin (four seats), Ireland
South (five seats) and Midlands North West (four seats).  The final
candidate elected in both Dublin and the Ireland South constituencies
must wait to take their seats until Brexit actually happens.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that the elections are an
opportunity to “pass judgment on an out of touch and incompetent
government”, pointing in particular to the failure of the minority
government on housing.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should not be rewarded for leaving a
generation with no prospect of owning their own home, they should not be
rewarded for 21st century tenements where 42 people are expected to
share a kitchen,” she said.

Polls open at 7am this [Friday] morning and they will remain open until
10pm tonight. State-run broadcaster RTE says it will announce the
results of an exit poll after voting closes.

Local election results from individual constituencies will start coming
on Saturday afternoon but most will become known on Sunday. The
referendum result will be revealed late Saturday or early Sunday.

Counting for the EU election will only commence in the 26 Counties on
Sunday morning, though no results will be announced until polls have
closed all over Europe at 10pm Sunday evening. Most results from
Ireland’s three European constituencies will become available on Monday.

Counting for the EU election in the Six Counties will only begin on
Monday morning and should be known by Monday evening. Results will be
published here through the weekend and into Monday.