Warm welcome for Wurtz

Francis Wurtz

Following the votes in this section, Mitchel McLaughlin introduced the guest speaker, President of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) group in the European Parliament, Francis Wurtz.

Wurtz expressed his delight at attending and speaking at this year's Ard Fheis and received a standing ovation. We went on to tell delegates that one of his first acts as an MEP was to charter a plane from Brussels to attend Bobby Sands' funeral.

Wurtz went on to outline the progressive and plural nature of the GUE/NGL group, characterising it as being made up of "communists, democratic socialists, green left parties and progressive independents". He said that they were delighted when Mary Lou McDonald and Bairbre de Brún joined the group and commended them on their positive contribution to date.

The upcoming French referendum on the EU Constitution in May occupied the end of Mr Wurtz's speech. He described the Constitution as right wing, neo-liberal and fundamentally flawed. He told delegates that "there is a real opportunity for the No vote to succeed in France".

He welcomed the decision by the Ard Fheis to take a progressive stand against the Constitution and wished us well in our campaigns.