Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher has been elected as First Vice President of the liberal and centrist Renew Europe group in the European Parliament following a meeting of MEPs.
Kelleher, an MEP since 2019 for Ireland South, will now take on a deputy leadership role in the political group that includes MEPs from governing parties in Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia, Sweden, and Slovenia. In addition to being First Vice President, Kelleher will also serve as the Group’s Whip.
“I am thrilled that I have been able to secure the support of my colleagues in the Renew Europe Group. I believe my vote today is a testament to the work of the Fianna Fáil team in the group, Barry Andrews and I, over the past five years where we have been consensus builders and deal makers.
“With this new role, I am keen to rebuild the group after a not so stellar performance in certain countries in the last European Elections. I want to put on record my thanks to Clare Fianna Fáil Senator, and Co-President of the ALDE Party, Timmy Dooley for his support in my election campaign. He was instrumental in building my majority.
“We are the pro-European centre. It is essential that we stand up for our common values and against the negative rhetoric of the far right and the extreme left.
“The Fianna Fáil delegation of Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and I will be an influential component of the Renew Europe group. We will push forward our party’s values and beliefs and work with like-minded colleagues from across the EU to build a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Union for all citizens,” concluded Kelleher.