Frankfurt's Way or Labour's Way

"Frankfurt's Way or Labour's Way" (sometimes repeated as "Labour's Way or Frankfurt's Way")[1][2][3][4] was a campaign slogan used by the then Irish Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore in advance of the country's 2011 general election. The phrase has become an archetypal example of a broken election promise in Irish politics. Described as "a desperate attempt to get votes",[5] Gilmore claimed on 3 February 2011 that the Labour Party (if put into power) would renegotiate the recent EU-IMF deal brought in under the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition. The promise was made as Gilmore launched Labour's economic plan. Frankfurt (in Germany) is home to the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB).[6] The party made a very strong showing, almost doubling its share of the vote to become the second-largest party in the Dáil, its best showing ever.[7][8][9] They then formed their own coalition with Fine Gael, but did not renegotiate the deal.

In 2012, after a decline of 25 per cent in their vote previous year's election evaporated, the Irish Independent said the Labour Party was "haunted" by the promise.[5] The following month, the European Fiscal Compact was enshrined in the Constitution, thereby ensuring the very fiscal compliance Labour had vowed to oppose.[10] Gilmore's promise was also referenced following the rush through the Oireachtas of legislation to liquidate IBRC in 2013.[11] Even Labour stalwart Fergus Finlay admitted in 2015 that it was "a phrase he [Gilmore] had difficulty living down".[12] However, Alan Kelly claimed "A lot of Labour's way was achieved" when quizzed on Gilmore's promise in 2015.[13]

In Labour's centenary year, state television (RTÉ) produced a two-part documentary on the history of party. They titled it Labour's Way.[14]