Abbreviation AAA–PBP Founded 2015 (2015) | Leader Collective Leadership Political position Left-wing to Far-left | |
Ideology Democratic socialism
Political radicalism
Anti-capitalism
Eco-socialism
Trotskyism
Euroscepticism
United Ireland European affiliation European Anticapitalist Left | ||
The Anti-Austerity Alliance–People Before Profit (AAA–PBP) is a political party composed of two left-wing Irish campaign groups, the Anti-Austerity Alliance (AAA) and People Before Profit Alliance (PBP). The AAA–PBP was formed in 2015 and replaced AAA and PBP in the Republic of Ireland's official register of political parties, although both components retain their separate organisation and identity, and PBP retains its own registration in Northern Ireland. The alliance was created with the intent to obtain more speaking rights for its constituent members in Dáil Éireann after the 2016 Irish general election.
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Background
Under the standing orders in Dáil Éireann, a parliamentary group must have seven TDs or more in order to have full speaking rights. In addition, political parties which get 2% or more of the national vote receive extra funding from the state for political activities. Combining the seats and votes of the two parties would increase the chance of reaching these thresholds.
The electoral alliance sought to provide a greater socialist voice in parliament, and a political platform committed to abolishing water charges, Universal Social Charge for low-middle income earners, and other austerity measures implemented in Ireland. The alliance claims to represent the 57% of people who boycotted the payment of water charges, and claims to provide a genuine working class voice in parliament.
Technically, AAA deregistered as a party, while PBP changed its registered name to AAA–PBP and added AAA members to the renamed party's list of nominated representatives. This technical distinction caused a legal question regarding the co-option of a member of Cork City Council to replace AAA member Mick Barry after Barry's election to the Dáil in the 2016 election. It was argued that, since the party for whom Barry was elected in 2014 was no longer registered, the party he represented when vacating his council seat in 2016 did not have the right to nominate a replacement. AAA–PBP attributed the dispute to a "vindictive Labour Party".
Organisation
The Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit Alliance announced its intention to organise separately and to remain free to maintain different political positions on various issues, but intend to cooperate electorally while maintaining their own identities and structures.
The six AAA–PBP TDs are: Richard Boyd Barrett, Mick Barry, Ruth Coppinger, Gino Kenny, Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith. The AAA–PBP also has 28 local councillors.
Electoral history
Ahead of 2016 general election there were four AAA–PBP TDs: Joe Higgins, Richard Boyd Barrett, Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy. Higgins retired with the dissolution of the 31st Dáil, while the other three continued. Boyd Barrett was first elected to the Dáil at the 2011 general election, while Coppinger and Murphy were both elected at by-elections, in May and October 2014 respectively.
The AAA–PBP ran a combined 31 candidates in the 2016 general election. On 25 January 2016, the group launched a set of "common principles". During the press conference, the parties announced their intention to release separate manifestos ahead of the following general election.