Pro-Palestine Irish MEP loses seat, blames 'establishment'
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Daly is one of "Israel's" toughest opponents in the European Parliament, which many consider could be one of the main reasons she was ousted.
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Irish MP Clare Daly attends a press conference on the struggle of Palestinian families due to war on Gaza and Israeli bombardments, at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on November 14, 2023. (Anadolu via AFP)
Clare Daly, an Irish leftwing MEP and advocate for Palestine, has lost her seat in the European Parliament. A harsh critic of the Israeli occupation, as well as a frequent critic of Western militarism, Daly slipped behind her opponents in Dublin's district, The Guardian reported Tuesday.
According to the article, throughout her tenure in the European Parliament, Daly blasted the West for "militarism" and gained a big social media following. She was featured in state media outlets in China and Russia, which her opponents used as a card to accuse her of supporting "authoritarian regimes".
Furthermore, The Guardian reported that Daly lost her seat despite support from luminaries such as Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox and actress Susan Sarandon. Sarandon is a well-known pro-Palestine campaigner who has been constantly accused of anti-semitism for her sheer support for Palestine.
Daly was one of "Israel's" toughest opponents in the European Parliament, Israeli public radio KAN said on Wednesday. Daly posted on X in April that the "whole world" knew "Israel" was destabilizing the Middle East and accused the occupation of genocide.
The emperor has no clothes. The entire world knows it is Israel destabilising the region, committing genocide and lawless acts of aggression against its neighbours. But the European Parliament wants to tell a fairytale in which Iran's the aggressor. Cop on. Nobody is buying it. pic.twitter.com/6cYsIuHuRs
— Clare Daly (@ClareDalyMEP) April 29, 2024
She also accused the European Parliament of "telling a fairytale in which Iran's the aggressor."
Following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, Daly responded to "unelected" EU President Ursula von der Leyen, stating that the latter's stance does not reflect the true voice of the European Union and in no way reflects the bloc's peaceful approach in terms of foreign policy.
"Today, Hamas terrorists have struck at the heart of Israel capturing and killing innocent women and children. Israel has the right to defend itself - today and in the days to come. The European Union stands with Israel," von der Leyen tweeted on X on Saturday.
"Who do you think you are? You're unelected and have no authority to determine EU foreign policy, which is set by the EU Council. Europe does NOT "stand with Israel." We stand for peace. You do not speak for us. If you've nothing constructive to say, and you clearly don't - shut up," Daly wrote in response.
Who do you think you are? You're unelected, and have no authority to determine EU foreign policy, which is set by @EUCouncil. Europe does NOT "stand with Israel." We stand for peace. You do not speak for us. If you've nothing constructive to say, and you clearly don't, shut up. https://t.co/9uEklDIIiE
— Clare Daly (@ClareDalyMEP) October 8, 2023
Following the announcement of her loss at the elections, Daly thanked those who voted for her and expressed that "it is testament to the success and reach of the work we've done that the establishment came out in such force to harm my chances of reelection.
Daly could have been the victim of Israeli lobbying to oust her from her position for her tough stance on "Israel" and her unapologetic support of Palestine.
I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me and all of the people I've had the privilege of working with over my time as an MEP, in Ireland, across Europe, and beyond.
— Clare Daly (@ClareDalyMEP) June 11, 2024
I have been honoured to have been able to use this platform as a powerful voice for peace, antimilitarism and…
Daly turned down an interview with an RTÉ reporter as she left the count facility in south Dublin expressing, "You had no interest in talking to me for five years, so I've no interest in talking to you."
