Daly and Wallace: Rising stars in Russia, China and beyond

Irish MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace have long been fierce critics of Nato and what they have frequently characterised as the militaristic imperialism of the United States.

They have both featured prominently on Russian and Chinese state-run media in recent months, vocal in their opposition to European Union sanctions against Russia and their support of China.

Over almost a year, The Irish Times’ Europe Correspondent, Naomi O’Leary, followed the international footprint of the two MEPs.

Her investigation revealed that Wallace and Daly have high profiles in the state-controlled media operations of various authoritarian regimes, a profile that is larger than many might have expected.

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In recent weeks their comments have been used on Russian television to highlight what broadcasters there characterise as discord and disunity across the EU.

And since January 2021 the two have received far more coverage in Chinese-language media than Ireland's top political leaders or even Irish celebrities and sports stars such as Conor McGregor and Rory McIlroy, according to news database LexisNexis.

One of them has even been given a nickname in Chinese: "Golden Lion King. "

In the News talks to O’Leary about her recent work and the significance of the rising stars of Clare Daly and Mick Wallace in authoritarian regimes across the world.