Conor Burke, one of the city's most prominent socialist activists, who was heavily involved in campaigns on housing and homelessness, and against water charges, has been chosen as Solidarity's Galway West candidate.
Mr Burke, who stood for Solidarity in the previous two local elections, was also involved in the campaigns in support of repealing the Eighth Amendment and for Marriage Equality. He has also been a staunch advocate of worker's rights.
"Many young workers, students, and families are struggling to make ends meet," Mr Burke said. "Massive increases in rents, insurance costs, and the general cost of living are contributing to the deprivation of many people. The so called economic recovery has largely bypassed many low and middle income people leading to a situation of massively increased inequality within our society."
Mr Burke warned that a global economic downturn is likely in the coming years, and he was critical of Fine Gael for "failing to address the fundamental weaknesses within our economic system" over the past nine years.
"Our national debt has actually more than doubled since the bank bailouts in 2008, which isn't as much of a problem when the economy is growing but, if another harsh recession is imminent, we will be back to the likely spectre of more crippling austerity. In that context we need strong left wing and socialist voices in the Dáil that will fight in the interests of low paid and middle income workers, while also tackling the housing and health crises."
