Information
Ireland’s general election began on Friday with a closely contested race between the coalition parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, and the opposition Sinn Fein. Over 3 million voters are expected to cast ballots for 174 parliamentary seats, the largest number ever. The election’s primary issues include the cost-of-living crisis, housing shortages, immigration, and economic resilience. Sinn Fein, which advocates for a united Ireland, is running significantly more candidates than in 2020, when it won the popular vote but lacked enough candidates to form a government. Its leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has called for a government that excludes the longstanding coalition parties.
Fine Gael, led by Simon Harris, entered the campaign with strong momentum but faced challenges, including a viral video of Harris being dismissive to a care worker. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein grappled with controversies surrounding former members. This snap election, called after Harris succeeded Leo Varadkar as Ireland’s youngest prime minister at age 37, has also been shaped by his effective use of social media, earning him the nickname “TikTok taoiseach.” With opinion polls showing the major parties nearly tied, forming a government may prove complex, involving smaller parties and independents. An exit poll expected Thursday night will provide further insight into Ireland’s political future.
Source: AFP, dpa
So what
This will be an interesting election as, much like the rest of Europe, Ireland has been battling a number of social issues. It is likely that voters will look for change as a way to combat this, likely moving towards a right-leaning party. If Sinn Fein does come out with a victory in the election, it could lead to some interesting predicaments, not just within Ireland but also in the UK. They would likely advocate for a United Ireland, something London would not be happy with, but could also put a significant financial burden on Ireland due to underdevelopment in Northern Ireland.
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