[ad_1]
DUBLIN: Incumbent centre-right parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael look poised to retain power in Ireland as vote counting resumes in the EU member’s general election on Sunday.
Both parties were ahead of the main opposition party, left-wing nationalist Sinn Féin, with half of the seats in the new 174-seat lower house since Friday’s vote.
Fianna Fáil, led by 64-year-old veteran Michael Martin, won the most votes with 22 percent.
Fine Gael, led by Simon Harris, 38, the outgoing Prime Minister (Taoiseach), was second with 21 per cent, while Sinn Féin was third (19 per cent). were
A party or alliance needs at least 88 seats to form a majority. At the halfway point, Fianna Fáil had 23 seats, Fine Gael 22, and Sinn Féin 21.
Both centre-right parties have repeatedly ruled out joining a coalition with Sinn Féin.
According to media reports, centre-left opposition parties Labor and the Social Democrats have been seen as potential junior coalition partners by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
The Green Party was the third member of the previous coalition but has lost support across the country, with all but one seat likely to be lost.
[ad_2]
Source link