THE LIBERTAS party headed by Declan Ganley has accused Independent MEP for Ireland North-West Marian Harkin of “throwing mud” with her claim that some Libertas supporters in other EU member states are in favour of the right to abortion and euthanasia.
“Libertas has linked up with Cuidadanos a Spanish party and they have formed a coalition to fight the European elections,” Ms Harkin said, in a statement yesterday. “Yet according to their manifesto, this party, Cuidadanos, favours the right to choose when to die and the right to abortion, even up to nine months in certain cases.”
A Libertas spokesman said: “Our list of candidates in Spain is headed up by Miguel Duran who is a totally committed pro-life campaigner. Dr Jesus Poveda, another of our candidates, is one of the most prominent pro-life activists in Spain for many, many years.
“Our party in Spain has recently signed a policy agreement, binding on all its supporters, to promote the right to life at all its stages.”
Libertas leader Declan Ganley is a rival of Ms Harkin in the European elections in the North-West constituency. There has been charge and counter-charge between the two on the abortion issue.
Ms Harkin said earlier this week the Libertas candidate in the Netherlands, Eline van den Broek, was “pro-abortion and pro-euthanasia”.
Libertas said Ms Harkin was a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group in the European Parliament which was an “active promoter” of abortion and euthanasia.
Ms Harkin responded: “The ALDE group in the European Parliament, contrary to allegations made by Mr Declan Ganley and Libertas, does not have any policy on abortion and regards it as a matter of individual conscience.”
The Libertas spokesman said: “Having baselessly smeared a young lady in the Netherlands, Marian is now throwing mud elsewhere. Our party policy on these issues is clear – Libertas in the European Parliament will defend Ireland’s position on these issues.”
