A Sinn Féin TD has indicated that there is now a more united group of left-wing parties in the Dáil, making it logical for them to discuss potential government formation, reports Breaking News.
After three lengthy days of counting, the general election concluded late on Monday night with the declaration of the last two seats in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency.
Fianna Fáil emerged as the clear victor of the election, obtaining 48 of the Dáil’s 174 seats. Sinn Féin secured 39 seats, while Fine Gael followed closely with 38. Labour and the Social Democrats each won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity acquired three; Aontú obtained two; and the Green Party held onto just one of its 12 seats. Independents and others represented 21 seats, reports Breaking News.
Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on housing, remarked that a week is significant in politics and many developments could occur, despite Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael holding enough seats to establish a government.
“The numbers are very clear. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael do have the numbers to form a government, albeit with some external support. However, a deal hasn’t been reached,” he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, reports Breaking News.
“So given the fact that our view is that a Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael coalition is the worst possible option, despite the fact that Micheál Martin seems intent on bringing Fine Gael in as a junior partner. We said we were going to talk to other like minded progressive political parties on the other side of the election. That’s exactly what we’re going to do. And in the first instance, it’s to assess what are the options, What are the possibilities? Micheál Martin clearly has the upper hand, there’s no denying that,” reports Breaking News.
“The conversations that we’re hoping to have with the Social Democrats, with the Labor Party and then with the other progressive groupings are about, look, where are we? What are the possibilities here? What are the areas of cooperation? But also everybody’s in opposition,” reports Breaking News.
In addition to meeting as a parliamentary party and listening to its new TDs, Sinn Féin was planning to speak with “like-minded parties.” They would be proceeding “step by step.” That seems like the prudent course of action for us to take.
He noted that the party had stated throughout the campaign that a government without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael was their top choice, but that they would speak with everyone if those figures were unavailable.
“And that includes Fianna Fáil. And if you look at what’s happened on the left side of the political spectrum, Sinn Féin has consolidated, increased our seats, the Social Democrats and Labour have increased their seats. That’s a powerful bloc of 16 progressive politicians for Opposition who campaigned and advocated for change. So again, we’re not losing the run of ourselves. All we want to do in the first instance is talk to the other parties and see what options are available. And again, there’s a possibility that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael won’t reach a deal,” reports Breaking News.
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