Polish party launches local branch

‘Razem Ireland’ describes itself as “an Irish branch of the Razem Party (Together Party) in Poland” and said it was “a social democratic political initiative” focusing on:

• Job stability and rights;

• Redistribution [of wealth] through progressive taxation;

• Opposing deregulation and privatisation;

• A progressive social agenda supporting LGBT rights and gender quotas.

Party spokeswoman Justyna Mokry, is the Irish coordinator for the party.

Mrs Mokry confirmed that Polish emigrants are much less progressive than the average Polish person, which does not bode well for her party gaining traction among them.

“But I hope when Polish emigrants hear about what we want to do for our community they would want to cooperate with us,” she added.

There is a prospective plan to stand for election in Dublin first.

Professor Nicholas Whyte of the faculty of Social Sciences at the Ulster University said the Polish population in Northern Ireland does not have enough density to elect anyone on the strength of Polish votes. The two largest Polish wards – in Ballymena and Dungannon – have only around nine per cent Polish voters.