Declan Ganley in France and the UK
Read more about: Europe, Libertas, Lisbon Treaty 
So the Declan Ganley European tour is on stop number 2 today in France. Announcing his French candidates for the EU Parliament Viscount Philippe de Villiers, Frédéric Nihous and Jérôme Rivière.
Out of the three you probably have only heard of De Villiers. He is quiet the controversial guy and supposed creator of the term “Polish Plummer” in the lexicon of EU debate. He also advocates an end to all mosque construction. But wierdly for Libertas
Mr de Villiers says he believes in a Europe of Nations. His goal is to restore full national sovereignty – not just for France, but for all the proud nation-states of Europe.
He wants France to quit the euro currency zone and to reject the planned EU constitution.
For a party that says its not against the EU just the way it is run I am not sure how that fits into their goals. Also de Villiers is against allowing Turkey to join.
The other Candidate is from the hard to think what they stand for party the Chasse, pêche, nature et traditions party (Hunting, Fishing, Nature, Traditions).
Jérôme Rivière. Supported a bill in favour of the Death Penalty for terrorists and was President of de Villiers support committee.
Is it just me or is Libertas shooting themselves in the Foot. They are trying to come across as not a Eurosceptic Party but one that is very much pro-Europe just against how it is run. But they are recruiting people across Europe from very much the Anti-Europe stable.
Now maybe that is just what you get when you try to create a party from scratch on a pan-Europe level and have to get the high profile candidates that you can find rather then building your profile and message in a more organic manner. Either way the picking of de Villiers is a poor move. One that will give their opponents plenty of ammo in labelling them Anti-EU loonies.
The libertas motto Democracy, Accountability, Transparency is certainly one that resonates with many EU Voters. But the choice of canidates from the less lets say PC stands of EU politics makes that the story not the view point intalled in the motto.
Now the UK canitdate Robin Matthews looks so far as not a bad candidate. He is new to politics an Ex-Army communications officer so it is hard to look at his view but the fact that UKIP have come out
The UK launch was met with derision by several MEPs, including UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, who branded the organisation’s basic policies as “flawed”.
Farage said, “Libertas is running on the idea that a few more elections, say an elected EU president, will solve matters.
“However well-meaning, this simply is not possible.”
“People have to realise that Libertas is not a Eurosceptic party. It wants a bigger and stronger EU,” he added.
That is the kind of publicity I guess that Libertas want (the fact the UKIP fear their Anti-EU vote might fall is of course not an insignificant part of the motivation behind that statement) i.e. the anti-Eu coming out to criticize them. Making them look like what Libertas want to look like, The Pro-EU anti Brussels party (if you get me).
The choice in France I think will return to Haunt them.
Hi,
I am listening to the Government and everyone from the government down to the local council officer in the street bellyaching abour getting Ireland back on its feet. When someone has a qualified good idea that will get people back to work in their tens of thousands who do they go to to get listened to. I have such ideas and many off and very genuine and on approaching the government recently was brushed aside and not listened to because their abilities lay in proclaiming their abilities to the voter, the world. while real people on the ground that can help are ignored.
Maybe they are really happy watching the economy snowball from one deficit to the next and then it will just get worse.