Maria Steen says she used Hermes bag to ‘expose hypocrisy of the left’

Maria Steen’s failed attempt to secure a place on the ballot for the presidential election has dominated headlines this week. Despite garnering 18 Oireachtas nominations, she fell just two short of the required quota. Interestingly, Ms. Steen’s campaign has attracted more public interest than the three declared candidates so far.
After missing out on the ballot, Ms. Steen lashed out at what she described as the “oppressive political consensus.” However, some critics accused her of being out of touch, pointing to the Hermes handbag she carried during an interview outside Leinster House. These luxury bags typically range in price from €10,000 to €30,000.
Speaking about the controversy in an interview with *The Irish Times*, Ms. Steen explained that the handbag was a deliberate choice. “I wanted to expose the hypocrisy of the left who don’t love the poor; they just hate the rich,” she said. She added that it was hypocritical for feminists to call for more women in public life and then criticize a woman for carrying an expensive handbag simply because she holds different values.
Ms. Steen further argued, “Nobody would ever question a man about the price of his car or his suit, or if he’s wearing an expensive watch, but if a woman carries an expensive handbag, that becomes all the news.”
In a wide-ranging interview with journalist Ellen Coyne, Ms. Steen also discussed the difficulties she experienced in connecting with certain TDs and senators. She reflected on whether she should have sought the support of local authorities and spoke about her falling out with Senator Michael McDowell.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/maria-steen-says-she-used-hermes-bag-to-expose-hypocrisy-of-the-left-1811843.html