Crowley’s shift to the conservative ECR is a ‘right’ problem for Martin

BRIAN Crowley, MEP, emerged as Europe’s most popular and improbable liberal in recent European Parliament elections. Among the minority of countries where European Parliament members are elected by constituency, as distinct from a list system or a combination of both, Crowley amassed more votes than any other ‘liberal’.

‘Liberal’, in this instance, means affiliated to ALDE (not be confused with the better-known European institution, ALDI, where we forage for groceries).

ALDE is the Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe. It is led in the European parliament by three-times Belgian prime minister, Guy Verhofstadt. Pat Cox held the same role, before he parlayed that job into the presidency of the parliament. Fianna Fáil joined in 2009, but most of its MEPs were unhappy. They had been in the UEN (Union for Europe of the Nations). A marriage of convenience between disparate groups, it yielded little influence and veered towards the Eurosceptic and the right. Facing an uncertain future by the 2009 European elections, it disappeared thereafter. In any event, Fianna Fáil’s then three MEPs had been moved on.