By Dean Buckley
In the final week of Maria Steen’s failed effort to receive a nomination to the Irish presidency, emails with the same message appeared in the inboxes of ten tds, all of them independents or supporters of the government.
The emails read:
“Ireland deserves a real presidential choice, not another party retirement plan. Nominate maria Steen and break the cartel lock on Áras. She stands for life, family, community, and free speech. Rural voters you represent crave those values ignored by Dublin elites.
“Your signatures alone can bring her onto the ballot. Let debates finally include conscience, culture, and faith. If you want our continued support, show that Ireland’s independents guard democracy, not establishment comfort.
“Do the bold thing today.”
Though ostensibly sent in the names of Irish voters, these emails came from a Spanish political organisation, CitizenGo.It was established in 2013 as the international sister organisation to the hard right,ultraconservative Catholic group hazteoir,with which it later merged.
CitizenGo has had a presence in Ireland for a number of years through American anti-abortion activist Scott Schittl, who has longstanding political and buisness ties to Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute. The organisation hired its first full-time campaigns manager for Ireland earlier this year, former journalist Louise Roseingrave. Last month though she wrote about leaving CitizenGo.
Its model is simple: flood the inboxes of legislators, public servants and institutions with emails and where possible hit them with phone calls. The latter requires volunteers and CitizenGo has few in Ireland.But the former only requires people to sign one of its “petitions”, which sends an email in their name to the petition’s addressees.
As CitizenGo’s petition to “Give Ireland a Real Chance to Nominate Maria Steen for President” explains:
“Politicians count letters more than likes; signatures show real names and addresses. When an inbox overflows, staffers flag the issue for urgent attention.”
Both Roseingrave and CitizenGo’s Britain-based global campaigns manager Caroline Farrow promoted the petition, launched 18 September, online. Farrow also claimed in posts on X to have organised volunteers to call the offices of TDs on the Monday before the close of nominations.
There is no evidence that Maria Steen or anyone involved in her campaign approved of CitizenGo inserting itself into the presidential nomination process on her behalf. There is some evidence she wasn’t aware – two of the ten tds targeted by the petition – Mattie McGrath and Carol Nolan – had endorsed her from the start.
Though CitizenGo’s attempted intervention in the presidential election was clumsy it was nevertheless remarkable: a foreign political organisation whose board includes a corrupt ex-politician linked to an international money laundering scheme tried to influence an irish election.
And it’s not the first time one of its founding board members, a former Italian MP, inserted himself into Irish politics.
In 2014 Luca Volonté donated €25,000 to the Iona Institute.
Unbeknownst to Iona, Volonté had accepted millions in bribes in exchange for helping to whitewash Azerbaijan’s human rights record in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
He was convicted of bribery in 2021 for receiving more than €2 million through the “Azerbaijani laundromat”, a complex scheme that siphoned billions out of the Azerbaijani economy and into companies controlled by family, friends and allies of Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev.Azerbaijani MP Elkhan
Foreign Influence Concerns Rise as Reports Detail Azerbaijani “Caviar Diplomacy” and Right-Wing Group’s Activity in Ireland
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Recent reports highlight growing concerns about foreign interference in irish politics, detailing attempts by Azerbaijani officials to influence European politicians and the increasing activity of the conservative advocacy group, CitizenGo, within Ireland. These developments underscore a vulnerability to “dark money” and external influence that experts have warned about for years.
Azerbaijani “Caviar Diplomacy” Targeting European Officials
A report reveals that Belgian MP Stef Goris attempted to persuade an unnamed Irish representative to accept a trip to Azerbaijan, funded by business-class travel and luxury accommodations. This initiative appears to be part of a broader Azerbaijani strategy, often referred to as “caviar diplomacy,” aimed at countering criticism of its human rights record.
According to the report, Goris proposed a fully-funded trip, including potential stays in luxury hotels in Istanbul and Azerbaijan, with the goal of allowing the Irish representative to “dispel unfounded criticisms” of the country. However, when the representative inquired about the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Goris abruptly ended the conversation and ceased further contact.
Goris was later stripped of his honorary membership in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of europe (PACE) along with other former members for lobbying on behalf of Azerbaijan. The report also notes Goris’s active role in attempting to defeat the Strässer report, a critical assessment of human rights in azerbaijan. The Strässer report, authored by German MP Christoph strässer, detailed concerns about political prisoners and the rule of law in Azerbaijan. https://www.coe.int/en/web/pace/strasser-report
Azerbaijan has been widely criticized by international organizations for its human rights record, including restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and the press.Human Rights Watch details ongoing concerns regarding political repression, torture, and unfair trials. https://www.hrw.org/europe/central-asia/azerbaijan
CitizenGo’s Expanding Presence in Ireland
Alongside the revelations of Azerbaijani influence attempts, the conservative advocacy group CitizenGo is increasing its activity in Ireland. While its efforts during the recent presidential campaign largely went unnoticed, the association has recently hired a new campaigns director, signaling a strengthened commitment to influencing Irish political discourse.
CitizenGo, founded in spain, is known for its socially conservative stances on issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia. The group utilizes online petitions and campaigns to mobilize supporters and lobby policymakers.
A History of Warnings Ignored
This increased activity occurs despite repeated warnings about Ireland’s vulnerability to foreign influence. Investigative journalist peter Geoghegan cautioned in 2019 that “Ireland can’t afford to ignore the danger of dark money” entering the political system. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ireland-cant-afford-to-ignore-the-danger-of-dark-money/39466453.html?ref=ontheditch.com Though,these concerns have largely been overlooked.
The lack of attention to these risks is particularly concerning given Ireland’s interconnectedness with international political institutions and the global financial system. Experts argue that Ireland’s size does not preclude it from being a target for foreign interference.
Implications and Future Concerns
These developments raise serious questions about the transparency and integrity of Irish political processes. The attempts by Azerbaijan to influence European officials,coupled with the growing presence of groups like CitizenGo,highlight the need for increased vigilance and stronger regulations to counter foreign interference.
Moving forward, it is crucial for Ireland to:
* Enhance transparency: Implement stricter rules regarding lobbying and political donations to ensure greater accountability.
* Strengthen oversight: Increase resources for investigating and monitoring foreign influence operations.
* Raise awareness: Educate policymakers and the public about the risks of foreign interference and “dark money” in politics.
* Collaborate internationally: Work with other countries to share facts and best practices for countering foreign influence.
Ignoring these warnings any longer risks undermining the foundations of Irish democracy and leaving the country vulnerable to manipulation by external actors.