Well, there’s nothing on earth like genuine, bona fide, electrified, six-car trans rights. (Ireland Simpsons Fans/20th Century Fox Television)
A viral Simpsons fanpage based in Ireland has announced it is setting up a political party.
Yes, you read that correctly. No, you don’t have to schedule an eye-exam. And yes, this is the most 2019 thing that’s happened so far.
The viral Facebook page Ireland Simpsons Fans (ISF) announced yesterday that it is launching a political party – the ISF Party – to represent those who feel they are not represented by the major Irish parties.
While not yet a registered party, the original page, founded in 2016, found its fanbase jumping at the chance to become members.
The page, joined by a Twitter account in 2017, amassed a loyal following for posting political re-hashes of tried and tested The Simpsons jokes.
“There is a crisitunity in Irish politics,” their website reads.
For years we have asked “Can’t someone else do it?” – and we are that someone else.
The ISF Party is Ireland’s newest all-island political party.
Tw: @TheISFParty
Web: https://t.co/BX0tYRFUqY
FB: https://t.co/10AI9sQc9h pic.twitter.com/XwOLHyK8yD— Ireland Simpsons Fans (@iresimpsonsfans) September 19, 2019
“Landlords are eating you and everyone you care about. Insufficient bear tax has diminished the wild bear population. The rich click their tongues and destroy the climate.
“For years, we have used ‘Can’t someone else do it?‘ – and we are that someone else.”
“The ISF Party is Ireland’s newest all-island political party,” the statement read. ISF claimed on Twitter it received 500 members in under six hours.
As a result, the party’s membership quickly exceeded the followings of existing parties Aontú, which was established by Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín when he resigned this year. As well as the right-wing party Renua.
What does the Irish Simpsons Fans Party stand for?
Party organisers have not revealed an official manifesto yet, but the ISF’s Twitter has been steadily revealing details of where the party’s policy stands.
The group tweeted that it’s a “no TERF club” and its aim is to “turn Ireland into the most progressive country in the world for trans rights”.
POLICY: NO TERF CLUB (NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ONE)
The ISF Party will turn Ireland into the most progressive country in the world for Trans rights.
Join: https://t.co/vgeBClPZ74 pic.twitter.com/CjD2tJ594L
— The ISF Party (@TheISFParty) September 19, 2019
It also stated that they’re against the Fianna Fáil. The big tent party that has built a following with its more populist, nationalist policy proposals.
Moreover, ISF also opposes Direct Provision (Soláthar Díreach).
Operated by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality, the system provides asylum seeker residents with accommodation free of charge and a living allowance.
However, human rights campaigners and watchdogs have routinely criticised it as inhuman in its treatment of migrants. One organisation called the living conditions of asylum seekers “appalling” in a press statement last month.
“Ireland should be proudly open to granting asylum,” the ISF tweeted.
Today in summary pic.twitter.com/2fzQr3kUGW
— Ireland Simpsons Fans (@iresimpsonsfans) September 19, 2019
ISF founder: “We are genuinely intending to register [as a party.]”
But beneath the dizzying array of memes and tenuous and obscure references, a cromulent question remains: Is it all a joke?
Page founder Jack Leahy told the Irish Mirror that it’s all serious.
“We are genuinely intending to register and have easily exceeded the number required,” Leahy said.
“Politics is changing and the idea of a Simpsons meme party honestly is no longer even a little crazy.
“I think it’s crazy that nearly 600 people would join a meme party this quickly.
“We always knew that working with such a big group would ensure a level of success for the concept anyway.
“”But mostly it’s because the group is full of 18-35 year olds who are expressing their political homelessness this way.
“I think that’s a major indictment of political parties.”
It’s clear that the party aims to embiggen Ireland, and the party is on track to actually being able to register as a party, under current legislation.
A party must include at least 300 recorded members above the age of 18 and have at least one member who is a member of the Dail (the lower house of Ireland’s parliament) or a representative of the European Parliament.