Ganley launches pan-European movement
His spokesperson said Mr Ganley objected to questions put by the Irish Examiner’s correspondent to his communications director during a recent interview.
“Declan is of the view that questions about the private political position of his staff members are something that necessarily they should not be exposed to,” said John McGuirk.
Declan was also cross with the way the Irish Examiner’s correspondent pursued him after his press launch in Brussels, so, would not speak to her now, but may in a few days’ time when he is not so cross, said his spokesperson.
He had arrived late for his briefing with about 40 international journalists in his expensive and extensive roof-top office, about five minutes from the EU institution buildings.
His podium was surrounded by the flags of the 27 EU countries, all fringed in gold and with gold tassels a-la-American.
He has chosen the colours Ireland used in its presidency — light and dark blue — for his logo featuring a cloaked figure holding a halo of stars.
His spokesperson explained branding was very important and they hoped that it would be featured in all 27 countries where Libertas plan to contest the European Parliament elections next June.
Mr Ganley said they would borrow from the Obama campaign, including asking for donations over the internet. He has said he would need €75 million for a campaign and has already applied to the European Parliament for money. “We badly need them,” he said referring to the donations.
But when it came to details, he could not say who would run under the Libertas banner in June or what their policies would be. He insisted they would be all pro-Europe, which would be quite different to the people like Czech president Vaclav Klaus who have supported him so far.
He had not decided whether to be a candidate himself yet either.
He could not elaborate on what their policies might be, but said they would hold a congress in March — perhaps in Brussels — where they would present a full set of policies.
Borrowing a phrase from Obama, he said he would come up with a new deal for Europe. He would like a constitution of no more than 25 pages and an elected president, US-style. He didn’t deal with the fact that this would require every country to set aside its sovereignty.
He promised to make the European elections a referendum on the Lisbon treaty, though his spokesperson acknowledged later that technically this misrepresented the matter, as the elections could do nothing to change the status of the treaty.
When asked if he would tell European citizens that their children could be taken away under the terms of the Lisbon treaty — something he is on record as saying during Ireland’s referendum campaign — he curtly replied “no” and moved on swiftly.
He said Libertas planned to offer citizens a clear choice, “because we are facing a fork in the road”.
Do we want a European Union based on democratic government that listens to its people, a Europe that is successful and legitimate and can stand tall in the world, he asked.
The Irish voted against the Lisbon treaty in proportionately greater percentage than that which elected Obama in the US. “This democratic decision is being wilfully ignored,” he said. And he did not like the efforts being made nearby to have Europe’s leaders address Ireland’s issues.
He was not a fan of Ireland’s neutrality: “I am not particularly enamoured with the idea of neutrality.”
European defence issues were very serious and needed to be addressed. Libertas would be supportive of seeing them addressed in a way that is accountable to democratic leadership, he said.
He insisted he had “no sinister links,” saying that his company, Rivada Networks, works in emergency situations with police, firemen and the US national command, but does not get involved in conflict situations.
His director of communications, former classmate Anita Kelly, called a halt to the questions and Mr Ganley marched off, not looking to right or left as this correspondent attempted to ask him a question about Libertas funding.
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