Press Statement: “Wealthy Elite will still have political power after election,” says 1% Network

Friday February 25, 2011 13:16

by 1percentnetwork - 1% Network

The 1% Network has claimed that the results of Friday’s election will “do nothing to impact on the huge wealth divide in Irish society”.

The Network has erected a series of posters in Dublin city centre which state “1% own 34% of the Wealth. Make Them Pay”

“Wealthy Elite will still have political power after election,” says 1% Network

The 1% Network has claimed that the results of Friday’s election will “do nothing to impact on the huge wealth divide in Irish society”.

The Network has erected a series of posters in Dublin city centre which state “1% own 34% of the Wealth. Make Them Pay” (see attached image)

“Whatever combination of parties come together to form the government after Friday’s election, one thing is clear,” said Brian Leeson, spokesperson for the 1% Network, “the new government will continue the policies of the old. The wealthy elite will still be pulling the strings of political power.”

“Figures showing that 1% of the population own 34% of the wealth will be just as true next week and next month as they were before the election,” said Gregor Kerr, 1% Network spokesperson. “Yet the main political parties who will form the next government have not asked voters to endorse this wealth divide.”

“Irish people as a whole oppose this massive divide in wealth,” Mr. Kerr continued. “But the policies of the political parties show that they have no interest in tackling it. We know, of course, that no political party would be allowed to take power on a platform of taking their riches from the wealthy 1%. Their huge wealth gives them political power. The power and wealth cannot be taken from the elite through the ballot box, it can only happen by a massive social upheaval.”

“Whatever the result of the election, the wealthy elite will still have political power,” concluded Brian Leeson. “To enforce that power, we can expect a further onslaught on the living standards of ordinary people. Through our trade unions and through workplace and community campaigns we need to organise to resist the inevitable attacks.”

Statement ends

The 1% network is a coalition of socialist groups which has come together to oppose the cutback agenda of the government and to promote a socialist alternative to the current socio-economic system. The name of the coalition was chosen to highlight the fact that just 1% of the population control in excess of 34% of the wealth of the state.

For more information, contact Gregor Kerr 086 1501151 or log onto www.onepercentnetwork.org

An image of then poster is attached