Aontú

Aontú
LeaderPeadar Tóibín
Deputy LeaderAnne McCloskey
Founded28 January 2019
Split fromSinn Féin
Headquarters8 Market Square
Navan
County Meath
IdeologyAnti-abortion[1]
Irish republicanism[2]
Irish reunification[3]
Social conservatism[4]
Soft Euroscepticism[5]
Slogan
  • Life
  • Unity
  • Economic Justice
Dáil Éireann
1 / 160
Seanad Éireann
0 / 60
Northern Ireland Assembly
0 / 90
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
3 / 949
Local government in Northern Ireland
2 / 462
Website
aontu.ie

Aontú (Irish [eːnt̪ˠuː],[6] "unite"[11]) is an all-Ireland political party. It was formally created in January 2019. It operates in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.[12][13]

History

The party was founded by Peadar Tóibín, a TD. He resigned from Sinn Féin on 15 November 2018 due to his anti-abortion views.[14] The name Aontú was announced at a meeting in Belfast on 28 January 2019.[15] The party has been described as conservative on social issues[16] and socially conservative,[4] and left-wing on economics, migration, and climate change. [17]

The party's policies include proposals for a United Ireland, a referendum on a "right to collective bargaining and trade union membership",[18] an end to zero hours contracts,[18] and increased state spending on public housing,[19] Their Web site says that Ireland should model itself on the "best practice in Scandinavian countries."[18]

Election results

Local government elections

Election Country Seats contested First preference vote Vote % Seats
2019 Northern Ireland 16 7,459 1.10%
1 / 462
2019 Republic of Ireland 51 25,660 1.48%
3 / 949

Westminster elections

Election Seats (in NI) ± Position Seats contested Total votes % (of NI) % (of UK) Leader
2019
0 / 18
New 6th in NI 7 9,814 1.2% <0.1% Peadar Tóibín

Dáil Éireann

Election Seats won ± Position Seats contested First Pref votes % Government Leader
2020
1 / 160
New 8th 26 41,614 1.9 TBD Peadar Tóibín

References

  1. ↑ Bray, Jennifer (28 January 2019). "Peadar Tóibín to name new political party 'Aontú'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "SDLP councillor quits to join Aontú". News Letter. 27 July 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  3. ↑ Kelly, Ben (11 February 2019). "The Irish parties reaching across the border towards a new era for nationalism". The Independent. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  4. 1 2 O'Malley, Eoin (16 June 2019). "Eoin O'Malley: Sound the death knell for pro-life Renua". The Times. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  5. ↑ Finn, Christina. "Tóibín signs up two members to his new 'Euro-critical party' which aims to protect 'all human life'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "aontú [Pronunciation]". Teanglann. Foras na Gaeilge. 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  7. ↑ Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977). "aontú". Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  8. ↑ Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977). "aontaigh". Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "aontú [Reverse Search]". New English-Irish Dictionary.
  10. ↑ Becton, Gavan (29 January 2019). "Party started early for Tóibín". Meath Chronicle. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  11. ↑ The Irish word aontú is the verbal noun of aontaigh, meaning "unite", "agree", "assent". The logo also colours the letters tú separately, forming the Irish word for "you" (singular).[7][8][9] Party founder Peadar Tóibín when announcing its name said it means "unity and consent".[10]
  12. ↑ Doyle, Kevin (28 January 2019). "Peadar Toibin reveals his new political party will be named Aontú". Independent.ie. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Electoral Commission - Political party registration - Current applications". Electoral Commission Electoral Commission. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "Peadar Tóibín announces resignation from Sinn Féin". Irish Examiner. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  15. ↑ Lehane, Mícheál (28 January 2019). "Tóibín reveals name of new political party". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  16. ↑ McBride, Sam (27 April 2019). "Sam McBride: Though slightly obscured from view, a hypothetical path to devolution exists". News Letter. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Ireland's new pro-life party faces a critical test". Catholic Herald. 12 December 2019. Aontú leans undeniably left on issues like economics, migration and climate change. [..] for a genuinely conservative option [..] Aontú is a welcome start
  18. 1 2 3 "Aontu Policy on Workers Rights". aontu.ie. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "Aontu Policy on Housing". Aontu. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020. If the state invested €2.2 billion in capital spending a year the 10,000 housing units per year objective of the Oireachtas Housing Committee could be surpassed.