It was the most indecisive Irish general election in decades: an election with no clear winners which raised more questions than answers.
As counting continues, Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny looks set to continue as taoiseach, with the largest opposition party, Fianna Fáil, respecting a “political ceasefire” to allow a minority Fine Gael-led administration to govern in the short term.
What does the election say about the state of politics in Ireland? Below is a selection of readers’ takes on what it all means. Agree? Disagree? Share your own thoughts in the comments section below.
“A large portion of the Irish electorate is sick and tired of the traditional and mainstream parties”
“The coalition delivered more of the same dressed up as change”
The constant running through the last two elections is a demand for change. Unfortunately for the coalition they delivered more of the same dressed up as change (irrelevant Seanaid referendum, no justice against protagonists of the crash,stars of the tribunals still walking free etc ad nauseum).
All the while, the majority of citizens have been left with the bills for the misbehaviour of a minority. The election results is unsurprising as we tell our political class we're taking no more.
So what will change look like now?Hopefully not the above but the challenge will be expressing and acting on it coherently given the fragmentation and proliferation of independents and smaller parties.
If FF/FG coalesce maybe nothing will change - but surely even they will get the message?
“Austerity has been a painful experience yet it has not been accompanied by any real substantive reform”
Austerity has been a painful experience yet it has not been accompanied by any real substantive reform - Ireland's institutions remain untouched. Property is again storing up trouble and public services provide poor value. The idea that once again FF can exert influence may seem odd at first, but the crash wasn't simply caused by bankers and politicians but also by vastly inflated credit shored up by an asset bubble which the population as a whole simply refused to admit was a danger. Although few would admit as much, maybe much of the anger of austerity has been more internal than might be assumed and in the absence of any real structural reforms voters are simply ready to move on. An opportunity has been missed.
“Ireland needs a credible left wing party”
Ireland needs a credible left wing party to offer a cohesive alternative to FF/FG led govs. Labour have blown it and Sinn Fein's history means they will never have the broad appeal needed to become major party. The independents are mostly left wing but are still a disparate group and some of them are not at all progressive ( i.e. the Healy Raes Mattie McGrath).
“I keep asking local FG and FF representatives for the real difference in philosophy or principles between the parties and none can give me an answer”
The good news is that those people feeling left out of the system in Ireland have turned to local independents (in rural areas) and anti austerity parties (in more urban areas) rather than joining Britain and much of the rest of Europe in swinging towards parties scapegoating foreigners and immigrants.
The sad news is that the opportunity to use these polls to reshape Irish politics away from its clan based, Civil War referenced, political system seems not to be being taken. I keep asking local FG and FF representatives for the real difference in philosophy or principles between the parties and none can give me an answer. The international money lenders who determine our lending rates (and we do need them to remain low) and the multinationals who dominate our high skill sector industries are interested in stable coherent government not tribal point scoring.
A coalition between the FF and FG would give a clear centre right option to the population based on the country's current not historical situation. Equally, rather than arguing with each other they would better scrutinise Sinn Fein and help it to come up with more robust and consistent left of centre policies rather than letting them get away will an 'all things to all men' stump. Ditching some of its gangster past would enable it to develop as a more coherent left wing party which would be attractive to people who are put off by Adams, his past and his cronies. There are some able young politicians there.
Sadly the one party that isn't referenced to the revolutionary past, Labour, got destroyed by trying to help run the country when unpopular policies were always going to be turned back on them. It is not surprising then that FF and SF both prefer the opposition benches where it is easier to criticise than do something to solve the problem.
“The fact that they’re both broadly centrist is precisely the issue”
The fact that they're both broadly centrist is precisely the issue. There's been little to distinguish them from one another for decades but they managed to carve up the Dail between them by playing to exaggerated divides. I'm thinking of the urban/rural & labour/capital divides more than civil war politics, which I really don't think anyone under 50 seriously regards as having any real bearing on a post-Good Friday Ireland. Their issue with going into coalition is that the illusory distinction between them would completely fall apart the moment they're standing shoulder to shoulder and essentially saying the same thing. They'd effectively be signing themselves out of existence as independent parties. The pantomime Fianna Fail play out over input into the budget will be telling as they 'prioritise public spending' while 'acceeding' to Fine Gail's inheritance tax giveaway (which their own voters will happily lap up). It's a confidence scam and has been for over 30 years...
This election is a massively significant realignment of Irish politics. There are a few things to take away from these election results as they trickle in. A significant thing to see is that a large portion of the Irish electorate is sick and tired of the traditional and mainstream parties. The large number of independent candidates and candidates from small parties elected is unprecedented. The local nature of Irish politics and the PR electoral system has enabled independent candidates to flourish in ways that they couldn't in other European democracies.
It's a terrible weekend for the Irish Labour Party, They'll be lucky if they have the 7 TDs that will give them formal speaking rights in Dáil Éireann. It's not a great weekend for Fine Gael either. The 'Keep the Recovery Going' message didn't ring with the majority of people especially as FG have made a balls of the health service.
This election has made clear that Gerry Adams continues to be a complete liability of Sinn Fein. Will the likes of Pearse Doherty and Mary Lou McDonald have the balls to instigate a palace coup and get rid of him?
FF is on the slow road to recovery. Its seems that Irish people have short memories. It looks like a grand coalition between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is the most likely option. Will it be the end of civil war politics? Although it might not be evident to external observers, there is a massive amount of bad blood between the parties. Despite there not being a fag paper between most of their policies there is a real bitterness between the two parties. Local rivalries and personality clashes that have been incubated since the founding of the state. If they go into government together. I don't reckon it'll be massively stable.
I say the Irish people could be going back to the polls before the year is out. Interesting times lie ahead!