Party leaders turn attention to how next government might be formed
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald arrives at the Dublin election count centre at the RDS. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Sinn Féin candidates stormed to a series of spectacular victories in general election counts on Sunday, reshaping Ireland’s political landscape as party leaders begin to turn their attention to how the next government might be formed.
Though many seats remain to be filled and counts will continue this morning, a hung Dáil, which will be dominated by three big parties – Sinn Féin, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael – is inevitable.
Sinn Féin candidates all over the country won huge victories, with many elected on the first count with huge surpluses, catapulting the party into the front rank of Irish politics and making it a contender for government.
Fine Gael seems certain to suffer losses, while Fianna Fáil looks set to be the largest party in the new Dáil, analysts were projecting last night.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reiterated that he would not form a government with Sinn Féin, but indicated that a coalition with Fianna Fail could be possible, saying “we are willing to talk to other parties about the possibility of forming a new government, one that would lead the country forward for the next five years”.
Potential coalition
Fianna Fáil sources reported an emerging debate in the party about potential coalition with either Fine Gael or Sinn Féin. Party leader Micheál Martin appeared to soften his pre-election refusal to contemplate coalition with either of his two rivals, declining to explicitly rule out a coalition deal with either.
Mr Martin said that for any government to be sustainable, the policy platforms between the participating parties have to be compatible.
“It has to be coherent and it has to be sustainable and deliverable. They’re very significant issues that can’t be glossed over in the euphoria of an election day and all of the tension, interest and excitement around it,” he said.
Later, Mr Varadkar seemed to echo Mr Martin’s views when he said that to form a government together “you need to have roughly the same views around the courts of the criminal justice system, around how the economy and society should be run and also how democracy should function and that’s what makes my party, Fine Gael, not compatible with Sinn Féin”.
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Election 2020 SEE FULL RESULTS
Results Hub
Seats by party
Party Seats % 1st Pref
SF 29 24.53%
FG 11 20.86%
FF 10 22.18%
IO 6 15.39%
GP 47.13%
SPBP 22.63%
SD 12.90%
LAB 04.38%
63 of 160 seats filled
7 of 39 constituencies complete
62.9% national turnout
Opinion was divided in Fianna Fáil on whether it should enter coalition with Sinn Féin or Fine Gael, or stay out of government entirely.
The divide was evident on the party’s backbench and among the frontbench of Mr Martin’s most senior TDs. “Government with Fine Gael isn’t a radical gesture,” said one member of the party’s frontbench. “I don’t see how Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can be seen as reflecting a radical general election result. Sinn Féin is a mixture of Brexit Party populism and nationalism that kinda has to be tempered in my view – or else the centre collapses.”
Another TD said he would prefer coalition with Sinn Féin rather than Fine Gael, adding that Mr Martin “needs to swallow his pride” or step down as party leader.
Consider coalition
Galway TD Éamon Ó Cuív has suggested that Fianna Fáil must consider coalition government with Sinn Féin rather than a grand coalition with Fine Gael.
Mr Ó Cuív, who topped the poll in Galway West, said he has always been open to a coalition with Sinn Féin and that he would be “totally opposed” to any arrangements which would see Fine Gael retain power.
“There is great arguments going on all day about whether we are nearer Sinn Féin or Fine Gael,” Mr Ó Cuív said.
“My heart is much nearer the Sinn Féin side of the argument in terms of services for the people and putting the people before economic theory.”
Another senior Fianna Fáil TD last night said that if the party was to share power with Fine Gael, “We may as well shut up shop.” However, the TD also added that Sinn Féin should be allowed to form a government of the left.
But others in Fianna Fáil are more open to coalition with Fine Gael, perhaps including one of the small parties, such as the Greens.
A grand coalition
Senior Fine Gael sources said that they expected Mr Varadkar would approach Fianna Fáil about entering into a grand coalition.
But Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, while hailing her party’s successes around the country, took steps to contact other left-wing parties to arrange talks on government formation. Speaking at Dublin’s RDS, she said she wants to explore whether such a new government would be possible.
“I also have consistently said that I will talk to and listen to everybody, I think that is what grown-ups do and that is what democracy demands.”
Ms McDonald, who was re-elected on Sunday evening with a big majority, said it was “not sustainable” for either the Fine Gael leader or the Fianna Fáil leader “to say they will not speak to us, representatives of such a sizeable section of the Irish electorate”.
Though most counts were continuing last night and will resume this morning, there were already some high-profile casualties. Minister for Transport Shane Ross lost his seat in Dublin-Rathdown, while his fellow Independent Cabinet minister Katherine Zappone looked set to lose out in Dublin South-West. Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty lost her seat in Meath East.
Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor lost her seat in Dún Laoghaire, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger lost her seat in Dublin West and Government chief whip Sean Kyne looks likely to lose his seat in Galway West.
The former Labour leader Joan Burton lost her seat in Dublin West, while high-profile Fine Gael backbenchers Noel Rock and Kate O’Connell are also likely to lose out
Mary Lou McDonald hopes to lead left-wing government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald REUTERS/Phil Noble
Hugh O'Connell and Wayne O'Connor
February 09 2020 04:06 PM
SINN Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she wants to attempt to become Taoiseach leading a left-wing government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
Ms McDonald has already spoken with the Green Party, Social Democrats and Solidarity-People Before Profit about forming a government without either Leo Varadkar or Micheál Martin’s party.
"The political establishment are still in a state of denial" - Mary Lou McDonald
Ms McDonald said the election result was a “a big statement of change” and that it is no longer a two-party system. She said her first priority was to attempt to deliver a new government without the involvement of the civil war parties.
"We have been in touch with the Greens, Social Democrats, People Before Profit and others. I said throughout the campaign, and I meant it, we need change, we need a new government, the best outcome is a government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. So that’s the first thing I want to test, whether or not that is possible,” she said.
“I also have consistently said that I will talk to and listen to everybody. I think that’s what grown ups do. I think that’s what democracy demands.”
Ms McDonald was speaking as she arrived at the RDS count centre in Dublin where she will be re-elected to the Dáil on the first count in Dublin Central. She said the party could have fielded more candidates but that "hindsight is a great thing”.
She hit out at Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael saying she does not accept “the exclusion or talk of excluding our party that represents now almost a quarter of the electorate”.
She said this would be “fundamentally undemocratic”.
“I do not think that it is a sustainable position for Micheál Martin or Leo Varadkar to say that they will not speak to us representatives of such a sizable section of the Irish electorate," Ms McDonald said.
She said a vote for Sinn Féin was not a protest vote. She said it was an election that is “historic in proportion, this is changing the shape and the mould of Irish politics".
She added: “This is not a transient thing, this is just the beginning.”
Asked by Independent.ie if she could be leading a left-wing government and be Taoiseach, she responded: "Yes" and added: "Let’s see how the numbers stack up.
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Support for left-wing Irish nationalists Sinn Fein surged in an election on Saturday, leaving it tied with the party of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar but unlikely to emerge with the highest number of seats, an exit poll showed.
Instead Varadkar’s Fine Gael is likely to compete with fellow center-right rival Fianna Fail to secure the most seats and the right to try to form a coalition government - a task analysts called extremely difficult.
RELATED COVERAGE
Factbox: Who's who in Ireland's national election
The Ipsos MRBI exit poll showed Fine Gael on 22.4%, Sinn Fein on 22.3% and pre-election favorites Fianna Fail on 22.2%.
Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), is likely to fall behind the other two parties because it fielded far fewer candidates.
Still, its breakthrough represents a major realignment of Irish politics, which for a century has been dominated by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.
“It’s a very, very good result for Sinn Fein... but even though it is a statistical tie, we would expect Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to fight it out to get the most seats,” said Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at Dublin City University.
Fianna Fail has ruled out going into coalition for the first time with Fine Gael and both parties say they will not govern with Sinn Fein, meaning there is no obvious government to be formed, he added.
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar holds his ballot as he votes in Ireland's national election in Dublin, Ireland, February 8, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble
“There are very rocky times ahead,” he said.
“HISTORICAL ELECTION”
Counting begins at 0900 GMT on Sunday with some results expected from early afternoon. The final and potentially decisive seats in Ireland’s 160-member parliament may not be filled until Monday or even later.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have said they will look to smaller parties to form what would likely be another minority government requiring support of one of the two main parties from the opposition benches.
The parties have swapped power at every election since emerging from the opposing sides of Ireland’s 1920s civil war. They have similar policies on the economy and Brexit trade talks.
Sinn Fein has moved on from the long leadership of Gerry Adams, seen by many as the face of a bloody IRA war against British rule in Northern Ireland. Its candidates were the biggest gainers by vote share, up from 14% at the last election in 2016.
Slideshow (8 Images)
With Fine Gael and Fianna Fail marginally down, the outcome demonstrated some appetite for change.
“The days of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail dominating Irish politics are over,” Fine Gael parliamentary party chairman Martin Heydon told national broadcaster RTE.
“Our elections are becoming more volatile. More like a lot of other European countries. The ability to form governments is going to be hard after this.”
A new generation of politicians led by Mary Lou McDonald spearheaded the groundswell of support for Sinn Fein, particularly among younger voters on the defining election issue of the cost and availability of housing.
Her deputy leader in the Irish parliament, Pearse Doherty, said the exit poll represented a vote of “a historic nature” for the party.
“You can see in the figures there today that there is a mood for change,” he told RTE.
Irish vote may end Varadkar's spell as PM as Sinn Fein surges
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish voters look likely to dump Prime Minister Leo Varadkar from power on Saturday in an election that could alter the political landscape with a surge by Sinn Fein, which has struck a chord among younger voters.
The nationalist Sinn Fein party is unlikely to enter government, with opinion polls pointing to the main opposition Fianna Fail winning most seats and forming a coalition or minority government.
RELATED COVERAGE
Factbox: Who's who in Ireland's national election
Fianna Fail’s policies on the economy and post-Brexit are broadly similar to those of Varadkar’s center-right Fine Gael.
“I think there is a bit of a backlash coming (against Varadkar) from chatting to friends and colleagues,” said Shane Sullivan, a 31-year-old data analyst who voted for Fianna Fail because he wanted a focus on public spending rather than tax cuts. “I think they are just a bit out of touch to be honest.”
Left-wing Sinn Fein, which has moved on from the long leadership of Gerry Adams and is run by a new generation of politicians led by Mary Lou McDonald, could win the popular vote if the vote reflects the polls. On Monday, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was polling at 25%, ahead of Fianna Fail on 23% and Fine Gael on 20%.
But Sinn Fein, which has appealed to younger voters on the defining issue of the election - the cost and availability of housing - has put forward too few candidates to capitalize, as the groundswell of support caught the party itself off guard after it sunk to 9% at local elections last year.
Analysts say it may only be able to gain a few seats and retain its position as the third largest party in parliament.
While both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael insist they will not govern with Sinn Fein, citing its IRA past and differing economic polices, such an outcome would demonstrate an appetite for change in decades-long centrist Ireland.
The IRA fought against British rule in Northern Ireland in a 30-year conflict in which some 3,600 people were killed before a 1998 peace deal. Sinn Fein’s ultimate aim is to unify Ireland and British-run Northern Ireland, where it shares power.
“I went for Sinn Fein this time because I really do believe it’s time for change,” said Siobhan Hogan, a 40-year-old childcare worker, who cited Fine Gael plans to increase the pension age and its failure to solve a housing crisis.
A lorry showing images of Fina Gael leader and current Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar (R) and Micheal Martin of the Fianna Fail party is seen during the build-up to Ireland's national election in Dublin, Ireland, February 6, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble
“I’m lucky enough to have my own place but I look around and I see people struggling. People need a roof over their heads.”
Polls close at 2200 GMT and will be followed by an exit poll giving the first indication of the result. Counting begins at 0900 GMT on Sunday with some results expected from the early afternoon.
Varadkar had hoped the economic upturn his party has overseen since 2011 and his own diplomatic successes on Brexit - helping prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland after Britain’s departure from the EU - would extend his near three-year premiership.
The strategy appears to have fallen flat amid domestic issues such as healthcare and housing.
The immediate beneficiary looks set to be Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, a 59-year-old former teacher whose party suffered an electoral collapse nine years ago after the government he was a member of had to seek an EU/IMF bailout.
Hugh O'Connell and Wayne O'Connor
February 09 2020 04:06 PM
SINN Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she wants to attempt to become Taoiseach leading a left-wing government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
Ms McDonald has already spoken with the Green Party, Social Democrats and Solidarity-People Before Profit about forming a government without either Leo Varadkar or Micheál Martin’s party.
"The political establishment are still in a state of denial" - Mary Lou McDonald
Ms McDonald said the election result was a “a big statement of change” and that it is no longer a two-party system. She said her first priority was to attempt to deliver a new government without the involvement of the civil war parties.
"We have been in touch with the Greens, Social Democrats, People Before Profit and others. I said throughout the campaign, and I meant it, we need change, we need a new government, the best outcome is a government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. So that’s the first thing I want to test, whether or not that is possible,” she said.
“I also have consistently said that I will talk to and listen to everybody. I think that’s what grown ups do. I think that’s what democracy demands.”
Ms McDonald was speaking as she arrived at the RDS count centre in Dublin where she will be re-elected to the Dáil on the first count in Dublin Central. She said the party could have fielded more candidates but that "hindsight is a great thing”.
She hit out at Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael saying she does not accept “the exclusion or talk of excluding our party that represents now almost a quarter of the electorate”.
She said this would be “fundamentally undemocratic”.
“I do not think that it is a sustainable position for Micheál Martin or Leo Varadkar to say that they will not speak to us representatives of such a sizable section of the Irish electorate," Ms McDonald said.
She said a vote for Sinn Féin was not a protest vote. She said it was an election that is “historic in proportion, this is changing the shape and the mould of Irish politics".
She added: “This is not a transient thing, this is just the beginning.”
Asked by Independent.ie if she could be leading a left-wing government and be Taoiseach, she responded: "Yes" and added: "Let’s see how the numbers stack up.
Sinn Fein Irish election surge leaves three main parties tied
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Support for left-wing Irish nationalists Sinn Fein surged in an election on Saturday, leaving it tied with the party of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar but unlikely to emerge with the highest number of seats, an exit poll showed.
Instead Varadkar’s Fine Gael is likely to compete with fellow center-right rival Fianna Fail to secure the most seats and the right to try to form a coalition government - a task analysts called extremely difficult.
RELATED COVERAGE
Factbox: Who's who in Ireland's national election
The Ipsos MRBI exit poll showed Fine Gael on 22.4%, Sinn Fein on 22.3% and pre-election favorites Fianna Fail on 22.2%.
Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), is likely to fall behind the other two parties because it fielded far fewer candidates.
Still, its breakthrough represents a major realignment of Irish politics, which for a century has been dominated by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.
“It’s a very, very good result for Sinn Fein... but even though it is a statistical tie, we would expect Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to fight it out to get the most seats,” said Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at Dublin City University.
Fianna Fail has ruled out going into coalition for the first time with Fine Gael and both parties say they will not govern with Sinn Fein, meaning there is no obvious government to be formed, he added.
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar holds his ballot as he votes in Ireland's national election in Dublin, Ireland, February 8, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble
“There are very rocky times ahead,” he said.
“HISTORICAL ELECTION”
Counting begins at 0900 GMT on Sunday with some results expected from early afternoon. The final and potentially decisive seats in Ireland’s 160-member parliament may not be filled until Monday or even later.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have said they will look to smaller parties to form what would likely be another minority government requiring support of one of the two main parties from the opposition benches.
The parties have swapped power at every election since emerging from the opposing sides of Ireland’s 1920s civil war. They have similar policies on the economy and Brexit trade talks.
Sinn Fein has moved on from the long leadership of Gerry Adams, seen by many as the face of a bloody IRA war against British rule in Northern Ireland. Its candidates were the biggest gainers by vote share, up from 14% at the last election in 2016.
Slideshow (8 Images)
With Fine Gael and Fianna Fail marginally down, the outcome demonstrated some appetite for change.
“The days of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail dominating Irish politics are over,” Fine Gael parliamentary party chairman Martin Heydon told national broadcaster RTE.
“Our elections are becoming more volatile. More like a lot of other European countries. The ability to form governments is going to be hard after this.”
A new generation of politicians led by Mary Lou McDonald spearheaded the groundswell of support for Sinn Fein, particularly among younger voters on the defining election issue of the cost and availability of housing.
Her deputy leader in the Irish parliament, Pearse Doherty, said the exit poll represented a vote of “a historic nature” for the party.
“You can see in the figures there today that there is a mood for change,” he told RTE.
Irish vote may end Varadkar's spell as PM as Sinn Fein surges
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish voters look likely to dump Prime Minister Leo Varadkar from power on Saturday in an election that could alter the political landscape with a surge by Sinn Fein, which has struck a chord among younger voters.
The nationalist Sinn Fein party is unlikely to enter government, with opinion polls pointing to the main opposition Fianna Fail winning most seats and forming a coalition or minority government.
RELATED COVERAGE
Factbox: Who's who in Ireland's national election
Fianna Fail’s policies on the economy and post-Brexit are broadly similar to those of Varadkar’s center-right Fine Gael.
“I think there is a bit of a backlash coming (against Varadkar) from chatting to friends and colleagues,” said Shane Sullivan, a 31-year-old data analyst who voted for Fianna Fail because he wanted a focus on public spending rather than tax cuts. “I think they are just a bit out of touch to be honest.”
Left-wing Sinn Fein, which has moved on from the long leadership of Gerry Adams and is run by a new generation of politicians led by Mary Lou McDonald, could win the popular vote if the vote reflects the polls. On Monday, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) was polling at 25%, ahead of Fianna Fail on 23% and Fine Gael on 20%.
But Sinn Fein, which has appealed to younger voters on the defining issue of the election - the cost and availability of housing - has put forward too few candidates to capitalize, as the groundswell of support caught the party itself off guard after it sunk to 9% at local elections last year.
Analysts say it may only be able to gain a few seats and retain its position as the third largest party in parliament.
While both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael insist they will not govern with Sinn Fein, citing its IRA past and differing economic polices, such an outcome would demonstrate an appetite for change in decades-long centrist Ireland.
The IRA fought against British rule in Northern Ireland in a 30-year conflict in which some 3,600 people were killed before a 1998 peace deal. Sinn Fein’s ultimate aim is to unify Ireland and British-run Northern Ireland, where it shares power.
“I went for Sinn Fein this time because I really do believe it’s time for change,” said Siobhan Hogan, a 40-year-old childcare worker, who cited Fine Gael plans to increase the pension age and its failure to solve a housing crisis.
A lorry showing images of Fina Gael leader and current Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar (R) and Micheal Martin of the Fianna Fail party is seen during the build-up to Ireland's national election in Dublin, Ireland, February 6, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble
“I’m lucky enough to have my own place but I look around and I see people struggling. People need a roof over their heads.”
Polls close at 2200 GMT and will be followed by an exit poll giving the first indication of the result. Counting begins at 0900 GMT on Sunday with some results expected from the early afternoon.
Varadkar had hoped the economic upturn his party has overseen since 2011 and his own diplomatic successes on Brexit - helping prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland after Britain’s departure from the EU - would extend his near three-year premiership.
The strategy appears to have fallen flat amid domestic issues such as healthcare and housing.
The immediate beneficiary looks set to be Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, a 59-year-old former teacher whose party suffered an electoral collapse nine years ago after the government he was a member of had to seek an EU/IMF bailout.
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