"I'd like to say you have a stake in this, a right to participate, of being heard and participate. We need to go out to towns and villages and listen to people. to hear what they have to say."
"miss the fact (some) people stayed away and spoiled their vote."
"Where we disagree, we disagree,"
"In general Irish people are decent and want the best for their communities and country."
Catherine Connolly won a landslide in the presidential election while many voters stayed away or spoiled their ballots in large numbers. Mary Lou McDonald urged all political parties to examine voter disengagement and the high number of spoiled votes. She told those who abstained or spoiled ballots that they have a stake and a right to participate and to be heard. She called for outreach in towns and villages and for respectful dialogue without blame or finger-pointing. She stressed the need to strengthen a culture of respect and noted some ballots were spoiled with the words "immigration" and "crime." McDonald described Connolly's victory as a landslide for hope, neutrality, equality and fairness and called for a national conversation on unification.
#voter-disengagement #spoiled-votes #respectful-dialogue #presidential-election #national-unification
Read at Irish Independent
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