FIANNA Fáil MEP Brian Crowley’s decision to align himself with the far-right European Conservatives and Reformist (ECR) Group in the European Parliament has drawn widespread criticism in Limerick where he topped the poll in last month’s European elections.
Limerick Sinn Fein councillor Maurice Quinlivan voiced his concerns over the move and asked if people in Limerick who voted for Brian Crowley in the recent election, realised that he was going to join such an “extremist alliance”.
“We always knew that Fianna Fáil was a conservative party, but this move is very worrying. It aligns the party to elements of the Far Right in Europe, specifically The Law and Justice Party of Poland, the Danish Peoples Party and the Fatherland and Freedom Party of Latvia,” he explained.
Mr Crowley’s decision to join the European Conservative and Reformists Group (ECR), also drew criticism from Fianna Fáil party chairman Brendan Smith who commented, “We are disappointed with Brian’s personal decision to join the ECR and by doing so align himself to policies and political parties that directly contradict core principles of the Fianna Fáil organisation. These include the group’s Eurosceptic stance and its position on membership of the Eurozone.”
“Indeed, a number of the parties in this right wing grouping stand in direct opposition to Fianna Fáil’s Republican ethos and tradition,” Mr Smith concluded.
