Aontú

Aontú
LeaderPeadar Tóibín
Deputy LeaderAnne McCloskey
Founded28 January 2019
Split fromSinn Féin
Headquarters8 Market Square
Navan
County Meath
IdeologyAnti-abortion
Irish republicanism
Irish reunification
Social conservatism
Soft Euroscepticism
Slogan
  • Life
  • Unity
  • Economic Justice
Dáil Éireann
1 / 160
Seanad Éireann
0 / 60
Northern Ireland Assembly
0 / 90
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
3 / 949
Local government in Northern Ireland
2 / 462
Website
aontu.ie

Aontú (Irish [eːnt̪ˠuː], "unite") is an all-Ireland political party. It was formally created in January 2019. It operates in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

History

The party was founded by Peadar Tóibín, a TD. He resigned from Sinn Féin on 15 November 2018 due to his anti-abortion views. The name Aontú was announced at a meeting in Belfast on 28 January 2019. The party has been described as conservative on social issues and socially conservative, and left-wing on economics, migration, and climate change.

The party's policies include proposals for a United Ireland, a referendum on a "right to collective bargaining and trade union membership", an end to zero hours contracts, and increased state spending on public housing, Their Web site says that Ireland should model itself on the "best practice in Scandinavian countries."

Election results

Local government elections

Election Country Seats contested First preference vote Vote % Seats
2019 Northern Ireland 16 7,459 1.10%
1 / 462
2019 Republic of Ireland 51 25,660 1.48%
3 / 949

Westminster elections

Election Seats (in NI) ± Position Seats contested Total votes % (of NI) % (of UK) Leader
2019
0 / 18
 New 6th in NI 7 9,814 1.2% <0.1% Peadar Tóibín

Dáil Éireann

Election Seats won ± Position Seats contested First Pref votes % Government Leader
2020
1 / 160
 New 8th 26 41,614 1.9 TBD Peadar Tóibín

References

  1. ↑ Bray, Jennifer (28 January 2019). "Peadar Tóibín to name new political party 'Aontú'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "SDLP councillor quits to join Aontú". News Letter. 27 July 2019. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  3. ↑ Kelly, Ben (11 February 2019). "The Irish parties reaching across the border towards a new era for nationalism". The Independent. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  4. 1 2 O'Malley, Eoin (16 June 2019). "Eoin O'Malley: Sound the death knell for pro-life Renua". The Times. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  5. ↑ Finn, Christina. "Tóibín signs up two members to his new 'Euro-critical party' which aims to protect 'all human life'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "aontú [Pronunciation]". Teanglann. Foras na Gaeilge. 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  7. ↑ Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977). "aontú". Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  8. ↑ Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977). "aontaigh". Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "aontú [Reverse Search]". New English-Irish Dictionary.
  10. ↑ Becton, Gavan (29 January 2019). "Party started early for Tóibín". Meath Chronicle. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  11. ↑ The Irish word aontú is the verbal noun of aontaigh, meaning "unite", "agree", "assent". The logo also colours the letters tú separately, forming the Irish word for "you" (singular). Party founder Peadar Tóibín when announcing its name said it means "unity and consent".
  12. ↑ Doyle, Kevin (28 January 2019). "Peadar Toibin reveals his new political party will be named Aontú". Independent.ie. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Electoral Commission - Political party registration - Current applications". Electoral Commission Electoral Commission. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "Peadar Tóibín announces resignation from Sinn Féin". Irish Examiner. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  15. ↑ Lehane, Mícheál (28 January 2019). "Tóibín reveals name of new political party". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  16. ↑ McBride, Sam (27 April 2019). "Sam McBride: Though slightly obscured from view, a hypothetical path to devolution exists". News Letter. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Ireland's new pro-life party faces a critical test". Catholic Herald. 12 December 2019. Aontú leans undeniably left on issues like economics, migration and climate change. [..] for a genuinely conservative option [..] Aontú is a welcome start
  18. 1 2 3 "Aontu Policy on Workers Rights". aontu.ie. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "Aontu Policy on Housing". Aontu. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020. If the state invested €2.2 billion in capital spending a year the 10,000 housing units per year objective of the Oireachtas Housing Committee could be surpassed.