#178 - Dr Gerard Waters On Why He Is Standing For Election To The European Parliament

Election Structure

Gerard Waters explains the structure of the European Parliament elections in Ireland, where the country is divided into three sections, each sending five representatives. He faces significant financial challenges as an independent candidate, contrasting with well-funded political parties. Ahmad Malik questions whether Ireland's political landscape is similar to the UK's uni-party system, where all parties push the same agenda 1. Waters emphasizes his honesty, courage, and knowledge as key attributes for his campaign 2.

   

Voter Apathy

Voter apathy is a significant issue, with 68% of registered voters not participating in elections. Ahmad Malik argues that distrust in politicians leads to low turnout, but emphasizes that not voting only perpetuates the problem 3. Waters shares his experience of connecting with potential voters who initially didn't plan to vote but were convinced by his integrity and stance against COVID-19 mandates 4.