A Conservative revival of Ireland? Is this the beginning of the European counter-revolution?

A referendum on 2 proposed amendments to the Constitution was held in Ireland on 8 March. The first was the alleged household amendment (Proposition 39), which was intended to extend the constitutional definition of the household so that the basic law would treat homosexual unions as families as well. The second amendment on care (proposal 40) was intended to remove from the Constitution"obsolete" language, which described the function of a female as being concentrated around a home outbreak. Both of these proposals have been rejected by votersby a large majority. After losing the referendum, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar resigned.

Postulates hitting the household

The household amendment was rejected by 62.2% of voters, while the care amendment was rejected by 66.2%. Electoral turnout in the referendum was 44.4%. These results amazed many observers who expected the proposals to be adopted. The rejection of the care amendment was peculiarly unexpected, as pre-reference surveys pointed to strong support for it.

There are respective explanations for this result. any propose that the supporting amendments failed to scope the voters decently while the opponents effectively mobilized their supporters. Others, however, point to a visible return to conservatism in Irish society, resulting in any voting against change. It is expected that the result of the referendum will considerably grow public debate on issues raised in Western Europe.

Best possible gift

David Quinn, an Irish publicist who has worked with the Sunday Independent and The Irish Catholic, has been active in the political life of his country since 1994 as a commentator of society, religion and politics. expressed his joy at the strong rejection by Irish voters of the proposed amendments to the Constitution. He described this event as “the best possible gift for Mother's Day” (in Ireland traditionally celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent, which this year was March 10).

According to Quinn, the consequence of the referendum is simply a clear signal that a large part of Irish society remains attached to the tradition-sanctified concept of family. "The results of the referendum are a refreshing confirmation of the lasting importance of the household in Irish society," noted the journalist. "The voters made a clear message to defend the conventional household as the foundation of a healthy and unchangeable society," he added.

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Will the government return to value support?

Quinn argued before the referendum that proposal 39, which aimed at redefining household in the Constitution, would undermine the basic rule that "family, in social and historical terms, is the foundation of our society." The publicist stated that "redefinition of it in specified a way as to include non-traditional structures would send a misleading message and possibly completely weaken the institution of the family".

In addition, he stressed his approval to reject proposal 40, which aimed at removing the outdated language regarding the function of women at home. "Though the language may seem obsolete, it reflects the importance of the household and the crucial contribution of women to this structure," Quinn explained.

Looking forward, Quinn believes that the results of the referendum should encourage the government to prosecute a policy that supports conventional values. "The message from people is clear," he writes, "Ireland must give precedence to a policy that strengthens families and promotes a society built on conventional values." Quinn claims that the vote is simply a clear signal to the government that Irish society advocates maintaining the conventional definition of family.

A informing to the authorities?

The results of the referendum, in which both "progressive" amendments to the Constitution have been rejected, represent a slow return of nations and Western societies to their roots. From a strictly political point of view, the result of the referendum should be interpreted as an expression of opposition to the Liberal agenda of the government. Rejection of proposals 39 and 40 can be considered as a informing to the government against further social changes that do not conform to the values of the majority of society. The rejection of proposal 39, which would extend the definition of household and proposal 40, which would remove from the constitution a language defining the function of female at home, can be interpreted as a triumph for conservative values.

Traditionally, the household is based on a relation between a man and a woman, and matrimony should be protected as an institution. Proposal 39, comparing different types of relationships, would undermine these values. Similarly, the proposal 40, despite possibly the archaic language of the Irish Constitution, questioned the crucial function of women in the household and in society. The function of doing 1 of the hardest and hardest jobs (such as raising a fresh generation to valuable citizens and people of science, culture or art).

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Ireland wakes up?

From a legal point of view, the referendum was crucial due to the fact that it was a direct consultation of citizens on fundamental social issues. The results of the referendum bind the government and parliament, which means that the proposed changes to the Constitution will not be implemented. The results of the referendum do not straight affect current legislation. However, they may affect political decisions and future legal changes in household and marriage. In consequence to the result of the referendum, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar resigned as leader of his organization and resigned.

Further debates are expected in the coming years on the implementation of LGBT demands and alleged women's rights, but in a much broader perspective, including conservative attitudes. The Irish society has shown that a crucial part of it represents specified a worldview.

The rejection of both proposals shows that there is inactive strong support for conventional values in Ireland. This is an crucial signal at a time erstwhile there is expanding force in the West to change the definition of household and marriage. Rejecting the proposed changes proves that the Irish society is more conservative than it might seem at first glance.

For: Ordo Iuris Institute

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