DAVID GILES,
Sir, - There are a few points arising from last Sunday's election result in France which should be borne in mind by the Irish electorate in the coming weeks.
Firstly, the electorate must be given a clear choice by parties which have clearly different policies. In France, much of the electorate felt that the Gaullists and the Socialists were too close to the centre and the European Union and those seeking change decided to vote for more extreme left and right-wing parties.
Secondly, a low poll and high abstentionism favour extremist parties whose voters are more highly motivated to vote.
Thirdly, proportional representation, long believed in Ireland to be a foundation-stone of the state, can give undue power and influence to parties with less than 20 per cent of the popular vote.
Fourthly, in the absence of politicians who are prepared to take risks by exposing and opposing extremists, extreme and xenophobic political parties can gain credibility and power especially if the mainstream parties are being seen to be out of touch and too subordinate to the European Union.
Fifthly, the election to political office of politicians associated with extremist and violent organisations such as Sinn Féin/IRA will be very harmful to the international standing of the Irish Republic, severely damage prospects for tourism and the Irish economy in general and send out completely negative messages to the unionist majority in North-East Ireland, to the Protestant and other minorities in the Republic and to Ireland's friends and neighbours across the Irish Sea. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID GILES,
Chiswick,
London W4.
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Sir, - European politicians seem to be more interested in condemning elements of the French electorate than in asking why so many people voted for Le Pen.
Many in France and beyond have become disheartened by the European project. Witness our own Nice vote and the success of "Eurosceptic" parties across the continent.
Perhaps, instead of adopting a patronising attitude towards how people exercise their democratic right, the political élite needs to listen to what the people are saying.
The EU will hopefully have learnt from the débâcle of bringing sanctions against Austria after Jorg Haider's Freedom Party entered government. It will hopefully learn to listen to its citizens and not dictate to them.
That way real democracy, whatever its outcome, will be respected. - Yours, etc.,
ADRIAN MULLETT,
Bushy Park Road,
Dublin 6.
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Sir, - I utterly disagree with many of policies espoused by Jean-Marie Le Pen. But as a democrat I cannot support Michael McLoughlin's call (April 23rd) for Irish leaders to shun him, even if elected.
France is a sovereign democratic state and its citizens are entitled to vote as they will. Foreign leaders who interfere in the internal operations of another nation state are overstepping the mark.
In the new, pluralist Ireland it seems that respect for democracy applies only when our political and media establishments feel comfortable with the result. - Yours, etc.,
NIAMH ROCHE,
Kill Avenue,
Dun Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
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Sir - So Michael McLoughlin (April 23rd) thinks that not talking to Le Pen will work; when is he going to get real?
French leaders have tried to ignore him for years, but to no avail, Unfortunately it is because of the polices of parties like Labour, trying to hold the middle ground, and getting away from their core voters, that the likes of Le Pen continue to plague us throughout Europe. - yours, etc.,
PAUL DORAN,
Monastery Walk,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.