SOCIALIST PARTY leader Joe Higgins, who is running for a European Parliament seat in Dublin, has launched a forceful attack on the Labour Party and union leaders.
Launching his campaign yesterday, the former Dublin West TD said union leaders had been "completely conscripted" by the Government to cut workers' pay and conditions.
He urged voters in the capital "to annihilate" Fianna Fáil.
"There is enormous anger out there among whose living standards are now being savaged," he said. Calling for "payback" for Fianna Fáil, Mr Higgins said working people "carry no responsibility for the catastrophic economic crash caused by Fianna Fáil sponsored greed, graft and profiteering in the property market.
"Yet they [ working people] are being subjected to a savage assault on their living standards, services and even livelihoods, to pay for this crisis," he said.
The European election would be fought not just on European issues, he argued.
"The economic calamity in this State will be a vital factor in determining how people will vote and will dominate the campaign.
"I believe that Fianna Fáil should be wiped out. This isn't a question of personalities. [ Sitting MEP] Eoin Ryan represents FF and he must take the responsibility."
The Dublin European constituency will be one of the most competitive in the country in the June election since it is being cut to a three-seater.
Mr Higgins, who is also contesting the Fingal County Council local elections in Castleknock, said he would spend €28,000 on his European election campaign, which he said would be "much less than anyone else".
He condemned the Irish Congress of Trade Union leadership, saying that "an Uncle Tom" tag would "to be frank, be a mild description".
The union leadership's "abject surrender" to "big business and the political establishment" meant that "the most savage attacks ever on wages and public services are being inflicted without a fightback", he claimed.
However, he argued that the "anger" of ordinary working people would make itself felt: "They won't be able to hold it back," Mr Higgins said.
Refusing to accept that either Labour or Sinn Féin could appeal to left-leaning voters in June, he said he was the only legitimate "left-wing" candidate running.
He said he would appeal for support to all voters in the capital of "left-wing views, even those who might not agree with every point the Socialist Party makes".
If elected as an MEP, Mr Higgins said he would draw only the average working wage from his salary and donate the rest to the Socialist Party and a variety of campaigns, including strike funds.
The European Commission, he claimed, favoured a neo-liberal economic agenda and workers' wages, decent working conditions and pension rights and favoured privatisation.
Mr Higgins represented the Dublin West constituency for two Dáil terms from 2002. However he was not returned when he ran in 2007.