Ahern must hold General Election on weekend, say Greens

THE Green Party has called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to hold the General Election on a weekend.

Mr Ahern has stated his preference for a Thursday election, but Green Party chairman John Gormley says he should reconsider.

“Given the huge turnout in the first round of the French presidential elections on Sunday, we fully support the idea of having elections at the weekend.

“Many Irish people, including workers and students, are registered to vote in a location different to that in which they work or study. A weekend vote is both sensible and fully justified on the grounds of democratic enfranchisement. It might also help to reverse the trend of dwindling electoral participation,” said Mr Gormley, who was unveiled yesterday as the party’s director of elections.

“Allowing people to vote on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday is a no-brainer.”

Earlier this month, Mr Ahern explained his rationale for a Thursday election, saying: “There are tens of thousands of people every Friday, working a four-and-a-half-day week, who are gone on Friday at lunch-time, and do you think they are going to stop for an election? The fact is in 2002 they didn’t, they were gone. That’s even more so five years on.”

The Greens yesterday launched their election slogan, “It’s Time”.

Party leader Trevor Sargent said: “Voters are now looking for leadership on issues such as climate change, energy, housing, health, transport and education. The Green Party will provide this leadership. It’s time to vote Green.”