Are we heading for another General Election?
IT l ooks l i ke we could be a number of weeks away from a new government as the reality of a divided elec torate begins to bite. The nonsense over who actually won the election has thankfully receded but it now seems quite clear the the three main parties don’t know what to do next.
One can’t live with the other so we are heading for stalemate.
As one senior political insider told me this week, “there’s a negative involved for whoever goes into government.”
The latest is that Fine Gael want to head for the back benches but Fianna Fáil has ruled out a coalition with Sinn Féin and the odds of a grand coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party looks to be drifting further every day.
Despite what many voters may think, most people did not vote for Sinn Féin, but having sdaid that it was a seismic electiion for them and many people believe the party deserves a chance in power and that this was the type of change the country voted for and needs.
Is there a shift towards a right/left set up in political life in Ireland? Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are reluctant at this stage to join forces but is the day that far off when they will just have to?
There’s big risks for both parties if they do decide to get together. They will rightly fear Sinn Féin getting stronger in opposition and in four to five years’ time come back with maybe 50 odd seats.
Will Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar survive the next couple of weeks as leaders?
Varadkar would appear to be in the strongest position, particularly if he opts out of government. He says he wants to rebuild the party and that can only be done from the opposition benches.
If he decides that he will prop up a minority Fianna Fáil government then he face the same criticism as Martin faced going into this election and I don’t think we will see another confience and supply arrangement.
Elections are great if they produce a clear cut winner. Unfortunately, we don’t have one.
Three into two won’t go so are we heading for another election? It’s what politicians fear the most.
I don’t believe Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil could stomach another one just yet but they could well meander into one.
Mary Lou’s hope to be Taoiseach could well be on hold for another while yet.