Micheál Martin has emphasised the need to “get on with the work” as he praised his Fianna Fáil party’s success in the general election, reports Breaking News.
Fianna Fáil is expected to secure the highest number of seats in the Dáil, with party leader Mr. Martin likely to take on the role of Taoiseach once again.
As the challenging counting process continues into its third day on Monday, with over three quarters of the Dáil parliament’s 174 seats accounted for, the prospect of a government that includes Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael appears significantly more feasible than any coalition involving Sinn Féin, the long-standing primary opposition party, reports Breaking News.
These two centrist parties that have shaped Irish politics for a century, and who shared power in the previous coalition, both rejected the possibility of collaborating with Sinn Féin before Friday’s election, making it improbable that either would consider that option if they can establish a viable coalition together.
Should it indeed be a reestablishment of the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael governing partnership from the last term, one of the critical unanswered questions pertains to the position of Taoiseach, specifically whether the parties will again alternate holding the Irish premiership during the new government’s term.
The situation in 2020 prompted the parties to form a coalition based on the agreement that the premier position would be traded halfway through the term, reports Breaking News.
Mr. Martin served as Taoiseach for the first half of the term, with Leo Varadkar assuming the role in December 2022. Current Fine Gael leader Simon Harris took over as Taoiseach when Mr. Varadkar stepped down earlier this year.
However, this time around, Fianna Fáil seems well-positioned to expand its lead over Fine Gael in terms of seat count, contrasting with the previous election when the parties were more evenly matched.
The significant difference in party numbers is likely to bring attention to the rotating Taoiseach arrangement, raising inquiries about whether it will be replicated in the next coalition and, if it does, under what conditions, reports Breaking News.
On Sunday, Simon Coveney, a former deputy leader of Fine Gael, mentioned that a coalition which does not maintain some form of the rotating Taoiseach arrangement would present a “difficult proposition” for his party.
At the same time, Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe indicated that he would advocate for Mr. Harris to be given another chance to serve as Taoiseach, reports Breaking News.
Mr. Martin refrained from commenting on the issue of the coalition composition on Sunday evening, insisting that there was “very little point” in discussing government formation until the final seat counts are confirmed.
“I think the sensible thing is to await the completion of all counts,” he said, reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
