Wednesday, 12 February 2020

Mary Louise McDonald may be better of as leader of opposition this time.

Writing on Nation Cymru Lila Haines  an Irish freelance journalist and independent researcher, based in Cardiff. makes the point that 

Sinn Fein’s shock win has little to do with Irish unification.

Results table

The Ceann Comhairle  (or speaker) has been counted as 
Fianna Fáil  here despite being elected immediately , so in reality tye two top Parties have tied 


So what happens now? Both  Fianna Fáil   and Fine Gael have said they would only not go into coalition with Sinn Fein’s.

However Fianna Fáil are bitterly regretting into a supply and demand  support for their Fine Gael and like Sinn Fein would seek support from other parties biut with 80 seats needed to gain a majority which buts a great deal of power into the smaller parties most of who are on the left  and Independents .

The Greens  in particular  who had vey good election benefiting from Sinn Fein’s surplus votes into a position of influence.


Indeed the theory that Sinn Fein would regret not putting up more candidates may be unfounded as it probably increased the number of allies and little cost to them.

Ireland has not seen a majority government since the  Fianna Fáil government of Jack Lynch and Fine Gael have always had to rely on coalition partners especially Labour , who are now at their lowest point.

But Sein Fein have broken, the dominance of the old parties .

The question is whether they can install Mary Louise McDonald the Taoiseach in a shaky multi party coalition or become the leading opposition party in the Dail.


Sinn Fein’s shock win has little to do with Irish unification but it is an issue that may dominate this Dail 



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