FF set to ‘refine’ selection strategy

FIANNA FÁIL has admitted it will need to “refine” its selection strategy after bitter complaints from party members about how candidates were chosen for Friday’s local elections.

The party opted for a centralised selection process this year under which candidates were chosen after an interview by headquarters rather than through local selection conventions.

The party’s goal was to ensure the best prospects were chosen, thereby avoiding a repeat of the 2004 elections where a number of weak candidates were fielded and failed to win seats.