Limerick TD lashes out at 'celebrity candidates' running for European elections
Mayoral candidate Brian Leddin dismisses famous faces running for MEP positions, saying ‘serious’ politicians should be elected
GREEN Party TD Brian Leddin has criticised "celebrity candidates" for the European elections, arguing that "serious" politicians should be elected instead.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week, Leddin said that "it matters who we send to represent us" in the European Parliament elections, and implied that celebrity candidates are not viable options.
Leddin, a current Limerick Mayoral candidate, said this in reponse to a post from fellow Green Party member and MEP candidate Senator Pauline O'Reilly, who had said that the first hustings for the Midlands-Northwest boiled down to "Greens versus the self-declared Far Right".
The European Parliament elections are taking place in less than a month on June 7, with Ireland set to send 15 MEPs to Brussels.
The elections have been seen as a lower priority for political parties, with many feeling the need to employ well-known personalities, given the vast geographical areas the constituencies cover.
This has led several well-known faces to put themselves forward for election, with high-profile candidates expected to do better in big constituencies where they might not be known locally.
The 'celebrity' candidates running for MEP positions in the Midland North-West elections includes former RTÉ presenter Ciarán Mullooly, former presidential candidate and Dragons’ Den judge Peter Casey and former jockey and Dancing With The Stars winner Nina Carberry.
In Dublin, well-known radio presenter Niall Boylan is standing for election.