THE European and local elections may be a year away, but the Labour Party is already gearing up for the fight. On Monday nominations to contest the Euro seat in Dublin closed. Since a decision was taken to run only one candidate, sitting MEP Bernie Malone is expected to stand alone at the convention at the Riverside Centre on June 25th. Memories of the debacle there four years ago will not encourage rivals to propose themselves.
The battle on the 25th will be for placings on the substitute list. Three candidates have put themselves forward: Councillors Mary Freehill and Peter Coyle, and John Foley. Bernie first went to Europe as a second substitute when Barry Desmond stood down, the first sub - Joan Bur- ton - was a Minister of State and declined the job, so they know the order is important.
The other three conventions will be held in September. ICTU general secretary Peter Cassells has been approached to run in Leinster and probably will. Candidates in Munster, where former leader Dick Spring has ruled himself out - too much travelling according to sources - and Connaught/Ulster are awaited.
Bernie, meanwhile, claimed this week that "the dogs in the streets of Brussels know that FF and FG are engaged in backroom discussions regarding a Euro merger. If this goes ahead, will we see FF and FG candidates standing on the same platform in next year's European elections?" The FF leader in Europe, Gerry Col- lins, was aghast at the idea and instantly ruled it out. The notion arises because this week 20 Italian Forza Europa MEPs left the Union For Europe (UFE), which they shared with 18 French Gaulists and seven Fianna Failers as well as a few strays, for the European People's Party. The EPP, FG's home, now has 200 members to the Socialists 214, and if it doesn't get the Gaulists to abandon ship, which it is working on, it hopes to become the largest group in parliament after next year's election. Power, not just on policy but for jobs, is all about size.
So as the two largest groups shape up to each other, left and centre, the slightly right UFE, now at 36 but falling, is increasingly isolated and could cease to be a group at all. Will FF join FG in the European People's Party? Will FF and FG merge in Ireland, asks Bernie, and give the electorate a left/right choice? No, says Gerry.