Ireland is mired in political uncertainty after Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s coalition government was ousted in an election that produced no clear alternative. The election results echo recent elections in other eurozone countries like Spain as voters have put their faith in anti-establishment and anti-austerity candidates.
It is not clear when final results will be known after Friday’s vote, but with 134 of 168 seats counted, voters had clearly punished Kenny and junior coalition partner Labour, leaving historical enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fail with the only clear numbers to form a government. But that is a prospect both sides would find extremely difficult to swallow.
With 134 of 168 seats counted, voters had clearly punished Kenny and junior coalition partner Labour, leaving historical foes Fine Gael and Fianna Fail with the only clear numbers to form a government, a prospect both would struggle to swallow. Kenny’s Fine Gael is likely to be the largest party though with a much-reduced seat count and is closely followed by Fianna Fail. Both sides will have a majority between them but will have to overcome a century of bitter political enmity. Even if a coalition is formed, it will be beset with problems that arise from the union of two disparate parties.
This is an election of surprises. An important aspect of the results is that if an alliance between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael becomes a reality, it would make Sinn Fein the main opposition party in Ireland, a coup for a party once seen as the political voice of the Irish Republican Army. Secondly, the left-wing party was able to exploit growing anger over austerity and was set to add as many as 10 seats to its previous count of 14 in the 158-seat Dail. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, who was re-elected in his County Louth constituency, summed up the surprises when he said: “We’re into a new era, we have seen in this election a seismic change.” The Irish media hailed the election as a rebellion and an ‘earthquake’ which brought about a sea change on the political landscape.
The voters have clearly expressed their dissatisfaction, and experts are weighing various options. Parties have until March 10 to negotiate a deal when lawmakers are due to meet in the lower house of parliament Dail Eireann and in theory, appoint a prime minister. The available options include an election re-run, an unstable minority Fine Gael government supported by Fianna Fail, or a once-unthinkable alliance between the two parties, which have taken turns ruling Ireland since 1932.
Ireland is mired in political uncertainty after Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s coalition government was ousted in an election that produced no clear alternative. The election results echo recent elections in other eurozone countries like Spain as voters have put their faith in anti-establishment and anti-austerity candidates.
It is not clear when final results will be known after Friday’s vote, but with 134 of 168 seats counted, voters had clearly punished Kenny and junior coalition partner Labour, leaving historical enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fail with the only clear numbers to form a government. But that is a prospect both sides would find extremely difficult to swallow.
With 134 of 168 seats counted, voters had clearly punished Kenny and junior coalition partner Labour, leaving historical foes Fine Gael and Fianna Fail with the only clear numbers to form a government, a prospect both would struggle to swallow. Kenny’s Fine Gael is likely to be the largest party though with a much-reduced seat count and is closely followed by Fianna Fail. Both sides will have a majority between them but will have to overcome a century of bitter political enmity. Even if a coalition is formed, it will be beset with problems that arise from the union of two disparate parties.
This is an election of surprises. An important aspect of the results is that if an alliance between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael becomes a reality, it would make Sinn Fein the main opposition party in Ireland, a coup for a party once seen as the political voice of the Irish Republican Army. Secondly, the left-wing party was able to exploit growing anger over austerity and was set to add as many as 10 seats to its previous count of 14 in the 158-seat Dail. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, who was re-elected in his County Louth constituency, summed up the surprises when he said: “We’re into a new era, we have seen in this election a seismic change.” The Irish media hailed the election as a rebellion and an ‘earthquake’ which brought about a sea change on the political landscape.
The voters have clearly expressed their dissatisfaction, and experts are weighing various options. Parties have until March 10 to negotiate a deal when lawmakers are due to meet in the lower house of parliament Dail Eireann and in theory, appoint a prime minister. The available options include an election re-run, an unstable minority Fine Gael government supported by Fianna Fail, or a once-unthinkable alliance between the two parties, which have taken turns ruling Ireland since 1932.
