Cllr. Hazel Chu elected as Green Party Deputy Leader

Dublin City Councillor Hazel Chu has been elected as Deputy Leader of the Green Party/An Comhaontas Glas.

Speaking on her election, Councillor Chu said:

“First and foremost I want to thank Cllr Marianne Butler for the incredible work she has done for our Party and commend her on a well run campaign. I’m deeply honoured by the trust members have placed in me. This result reflects a broad, generous coalition of support from Greens in every part of the country, urban and rural, north and south. People who want a party that is bold, ambitious and ready to lead.

Members were clear: they want a Green Party that speaks plainly, organises relentlessly, and delivers real change. My job now is to turn that mandate into momentum.

The future of the Green Party is about rebuilding and reinvigorating, rooted in our values, serious about power, and focused on outcomes for people and the planet. We will be a party that sets the agenda, not one that reacts to it.

I’m looking forward to working closely with Roderic O’Gorman our leader, Malcolm Noonan our Senator, Janet Horner our Chair and with our Councillors, representatives, our members and activists across the island of Ireland. 

This is the start of a new chapter. Climate action, nature restoration, social justice and an equal economy are not niche issues, they are the core priorities of modern politics. We are strongest when we act as one movement, sharing ideas, talent and ambition across borders.”

All paid up members of six month standing of the Green Party were entitled to vote in this election. 63.2% of members voted for Cllr. Chu.

Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman welcomed Councillor Chu’s election: 

“I am really looking forward to working with Hazel in her role as new deputy leader. She has huge experience through her many years service on Dublin City Council and through the leadership roles she has previously held in the Green Party. She will have an important role in rebuilding Green Party representation around the country, particularly as this Government continues to ignore climate and environmental issues”. 

“I would also like to thank Councillor Marianne Butler for contesting this campaign. Marianne used her experience as a county councillor since 2010 to articulate how the Party can win back seats. She has a long history of activism in this party and I know that this will continue.”

Councillor Butler expressed her congratulations to Councillor Chu saying:

“Although the result is not what I hoped for, I congratulate Hazel on her election as deputy leader of our party. I wish to thank every member who voted for me. 

I believe this campaign was a very healthy and constructive process for the Green Party. While we are all committed to rebuilding our Party, members saw different visions, for how that should happen. That’s a good thing and I hope that conversation will continue.

The urgent need for climate action, social justice and nature restoration remains and our work continues with the same passion and purpose.  I look forward to working with our leadership team as we now focus on the upcoming bye-elections and European and local elections in 2029.”

ENDS

Cllr Hazel Chu Bio:

Hazel Chu was born and raised in Dublin. She grew up in the suburb of Firhouse, before moving to Celbridge, and now lives in Ranelagh with her partner Patrick and their daughter Alex.

She first became involved in politics in 2014, when she ran her partner’s local election campaign. In 2019, she became the first Green Party councillor to be elected in the local elections for the ward of Pembroke and topped the poll with over 4,000 first preference votes. In the same year she was elected Chair of the Party. She served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 2020 to 2021.

She studied politics and history in UCD and trained to be a barrister at Kings Inns. While studying she worked as a fundraising consultant for non-profits and as a production manager for music festivals. After being called to the Bar in 2007 she worked in Sydney, Hong Kong and Guilin. Upon returning home she was offered a Fellowship by UCD Smurfit and worked in New York for Bord Bia. She has worked in various management roles and in 2013 became Diageo’s Head of Brand, Corporate and Trade Communications.