Sinn Fein surge sets up battle over who will form government
SINN Fein’s president has promised to work with like-minded parties to form Ireland’s next government after a sensational General Election performance.
While it remains unclear whether it will ultimately be part of any future coalition, the support gained by Mary Lou Mcdonald’s party has sent shockwaves across the Irish political landscape.
The final declaration of seats remained some way off last night, but tallies suggest the party is set to top constituency polls across the country, challenging the 90-year power duopoly of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.
The party appears to be faring even better than an exit poll that reported an extraordinary statistical three-way dead heat between the three main parties.
In a result symbolic of the surge, the first seat declared shortly after 4pm was Sinn Fein’s Donnchadh O Laoghaire, who topped the poll ahead of Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.
Fine Gael Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was also outpolled by a Sinn Fein candidate in his Dublin West constituency.
But the odds remain against Sinn Fein emerging with the most seats, primarily because it ran significantly fewer candidates than its two main rivals – 42 compared to Fianna Fail’s 84 and Fine Gael’s 82
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have vowed never to go into government with Sinn Fein, and Fianna Fail has ruled out a “grand coalition” with Fine Gael.
If parties stick to their pledges then it would be extremely difficult for any of the three to lead a majority government.
Smaller parties such as the Greens, Labour, the Social Democrats and Solidarity/people Before Profit – and a sizeable number of independent TDS
– may all be courted as the main parties seek junior coalition partners.
Arriving at the RDS count centre in Dublin, Mrs Mcdonald branded talk of excluding her party as “undemocratic”.
She said she had been in touch with the Greens, Social Democrats and People Before Profit to discuss the prospect of them joining her party in government.
“It’s been an election about change,” she said. “The extraordinary thing is it seems the political establishment - and by that I mean Fianna Fail and Fine Gael
– are in a state of denial. They are still not listening to what the people have said.”