Darragh Ballíck
Darragh Ballíck | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader of His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition | |
| In office 28 June 2012 – 19 June 2017 | |
| Monarch | Kenneth IV |
| Deputy | Stiofán Mac Suibhne |
| Succeeded by | Stiofán Mac Suibhne |
| Leader of the Social Democrats | |
| In office 28 June 2012 – 13 June 2017 | |
| Deputy | Stiofán Mac Suibhne |
| Succeeded by | Stiofán Mac Suibhne |
| Teachta Comhthionól for Spálgleann North | |
| In office 12 June 1997 – 18 February 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Darragh Calvin Ballíck 23 May 1950 Spálgleann, Caldia |
| Political party | Social Democrats |
| Alma mater | King's University Bulfawst |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Galdish Army |
Darragh Seamus Ballíck (23 May 1950) is a Caldish politician and formerly the Leader of the Social Democrats. He was the Teachta Comhthionól (TC) for Spálgleann North from 1997 to 2019. Before entering politics, he was an accountant.
Since his tenure as party leader began on 28 June 2012, Ballíck has continued the trend of moving back to the left. Commentators speculated that this is the direct result of the centrist tendencies of former Taoiseach Alastrí Nic Ualtair ⁊ Ní Deoradh and the policies implemented under her administration. Ballíck supported increased public spending, deeper involvement of the state in the economy, and committed the party to environmentalist causes. Under his leadership, the PSD took new stances such as a commitment to decrease oil production, promote green energy abroad, and a reduction of nuclear power in favor of replacing it with wind and solar power. These positions were the PSD's response to the green policies of the Nic Ualtair.
After strengthening ties with the Green Party, he oversaw the negotiations that led to the forming of the Red-Green Alliance, an electoral between Ballíck's PSD and the Greens. During the campaign for the 2017 general election, a series of controversies hampered his ability to campaign. He found conflict with the party's traditional trade unionist base. Critics accused Ballíck of weak positions on labour in order to court urban liberal voters with environmentalist policies. He was egged by union affiliated protesters twice and was caught being dismissive of union concerns. The Caldish Trade Union Confederation continued to support Ballíck, but some individual union leaders broke ranks and instead supported the Labour Party. While most of the organized labour movement remained behind the PSD, the party received bad press and Ballíck struggled to establish himself during the campaign.
The PSD had a worse showing in 2017 than it did at the 2012 election, losing 12 seats. The party's vote share declined to its lowest ever at 20.23%. Ballíck announced his intention to resign shortly after and has since retired from politics.
Personal life
Darragh Ballíck was born to Niall Ballíck, a worker in a textile factory, and Brighdín Ní Fionnáin, a schoolteacher, on 23 May 1950. He was born in Spálgleann. He was the youngest of five children. His family was part of the industrial class and his father had extensive involvement in the labor movement and often campaigned on behalf of Social Democratic candidates in Spálgleann.
Darragh was the only one of his siblings to attend university, while his four older brothers all went to trade schools and entered the industrial workforce. After serving two years in the army, he studied at King's University Shanbally and graduated with a business degree in accounting.
He has never married and has no children. Ballíck is an agnostic atheist.