Peter Casey to run as independent candidate in upcoming European elections
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Former independent presidential candidate Peter Casey is to contest the upcoming European Parliament elections. Mr Casey is hoping to win one of five seats in the Midlands North West constituency.
Mr Casey finished second in the 2018 Presidential election, losing to incumbent Michael D Higgins. He also contested the 2019 European Parliament election for Midlands North West and was eliminated on the 13th count.
The Independent candidate also ran for the Dáil at the 2020 General Election, running in both the Donegal and Dublin West constituencies. He garnered 2,132 votes in Donegal and just 708 in Dublin West.
In a statement announcing his candidacy, Mr Casey said that he is “very concerned about the total open border policy of our government and indeed the opposition, Sinn Féin”.
Mr Casey said that it was a “serious mistake” for Ireland to have opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, citing the ongoing housing crisis.
He also called for 100% redress in dealing with the ongoing Mica and defective block crisis across the northwest of the country, saying that he would do “everything I can to help” those impacted if elected.
Mr Casey also criticised the Green Party, saying that while the country needed to tackle climate change, the carbon tax is “not the answer”.
“In rural Ireland, we do not have the options that people living in Dublin have to get around. We have no choice but to use our cars. Our farmers know more and care more about the land than anyone but they cannot avoid using diesel,” he claimed.
The Independent candidate also claimed that young people are leaving Ireland “in droves”, saying that there should be incentives to bring them home.
He said that there is currently a “major disconnect” between central and local government.
Mr Casey is the latest in a long line of candidates to announce they are running in the Midlands North West constituency.
Most recently, Independent Ireland confirmed that former RTÉ broadcaster Ciaran Mullooly would be contesting the constituency for the party.
Fianna Fáil is currently running three candidates in the constituency — Barry Cowen, Lisa Chambers and Niall Blaney — while Fine Gael selected sitting MEP Maria Walsh and former jockey Nina Carberry.
Sinn Féin has selected both sitting MEP Chris MacManus and MP Michelle Gildernew, while the Green Party is running Pauline O’Reilly.
In recent days, former Green Party candidate Saoirse McHugh confirmed that she would be contesting the election as an independent.