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The Sinn Féin
candidate topping the poll McDonald Engaging Smaller IRISH
in the Taoiseach’s con-
stituency said the people
had given him the chance Parties In Hopes Of Forming EXAMINER
to make a change.
Paul Donnelly, 51,
hailed a “massive” vote Left-Wing Coalition |
several thousand above February
that needed to win a seat inn Féin is working to
in Dublin West. establish the viability
It is a constituency with Sof a left-wing coalition 12th,
a mixture of affluent sub- government.
urbs where Leo Varadkar In the wake of a stunning 2020
derives much of his sup- election result, leader Mary
port, and communities Lou McDonald is engaging
housing Ireland’s new with smaller parties and a
immigrant population range of independent TDs to
which are among the see if she has the numbers to
country’s most diverse. assemble a workable adminis-
Mr Donnelly said: “We tration.
are talking to people, they It remains highly doubtful
heard the message that we Ms McDonald can garner
were trying to sell in terms enough partners to reach the
of housing and health, in magic number of 80 TDs to
command a majority in the
terms of finance and man- Dáil.
aging the economy. But if she did pull it off it
“People want something would represent a landmark
different, they told me time moment for the state, as it
and time again they look would be the first time in
at Fianna Fáil and Fine more than 90 years when nei-
Gael and they see the ther Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael
same.” was not in power. Mary Lou McDonald addresses the media in Dublin, as Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill
He received the Smaller parties and group- looks on (Niall Carson/PA)
applause of his colleagues ings such as the Greens, Fine Gael was the big loser, going to be tight,” he told Gael/Sinn Féin coalition.
as he walked around the Labour, the Social Democrats recording the second-worst RTE’s Morning Ireland. Another permutation
Phibblestown community and Solidarity/People Before result in its history, winning “But we have an obliga- could see the exclusion of
center which is being used Profit, and a sizeable number only 35 seats having entered tion, and Mary Lou Sinn Féin, with Fine Gael and
as a count venue, smartly of independent TDs, are all the campaign as the largest McDonald has already set this Fianna Fáil entering power
dressed in a dark suit and set to be courted by Mrs party on 47. in train, to talk to the pro- together in a so-called “grand
bearing a broad smile. McDonald as she seeks junior Despite being edged in gressive parties that were coalition” with another small-
The married father-of- coalition partners. seat numbers, Sinn Féin is clearly part of the mandate er party or grouping – though
Many believe it will be
four and youth worker is impossible to form a govern- undoubtedly the party with for change.” that prospect looks increas-
most to celebrate, having
Despite receiving the most
ingly unlikely.
part of several local com- ment without the involve- smashed the long-standing first preference votes, Sinn Sinn Féin received 24.5%
munity organisations tack- ment of one of either Fianna two-party system. Féin’s place in the next gov- of the vote share on first pref-
ling drug abuse and pro- Fáil or Fine Gael. Mary Lou McDonald’s ernment is not guaranteed. erence in Saturday’s election,
moting local housing. A coalition of Fianna Fáil, party triumphed in the popu- All three major parties are Fianna Fáil got 22.2% and
He said he was thrilled Sinn Féin and the Green lar vote and may have won far short of the 80 seats Fine Gael 20.9%.
and thanked his supporters Party – which ended with 12 many more seats – potential- required for a majority so, The final breakdown of the
and the public. seats – is seen as a potentially ly an additional 11 – if it had barring another election, 160 seats was Fianna Fáil 38,
“They have experienced more realistic option. fielded more candidates in some form of coalition is Sinn Féin 37, Fine Gael 35,
the same and they don’t Fianna Fáil emerged from the landmark contest. inevitable. Greens 12, Labour 6, Social
believe the manifestos they the election as the largest As such, momentum is Either Fianna Fáil or Fine Democrats 6,
were seeing. party by the narrowest mar- behind her in taking the first Gael may be forced to back- Solidarity/People Before
“They were telling me gin over the surging Sinn steps in what could be a long track on long-standing Profit 5, Aontu 1,
that if they (other parties) Féin. and tortuous process to form pledges never to do business Independents4Change 1 and
were so genuine in terms Micheál Martin’s party fin- a new government. with Sinn Féin. independents 19.
of what they want to imple- ished with 38 seats to Sinn She has predicted she There appear to be differ- Mr Varadkar’s confidence
Féin’s 37 at the end of two
ment they have had 100 days of counting. could be Ireland’s next ing views within Fianna Fáil, and supply arrangement with
taoiseach.
with some members remain-
Fianna Fáil took 70 days to
years. But given the Fianna Fáil Newly-elected Sinn Féin ing opposed to any alliance negotiate following the incon-
“Why don’t they just do speaker was re-elected with- TD for Cavan and Monaghan with Sinn Féin and others clusive 2016 general election.
it, why are they coming out contest, both parties Matt Carthy acknowledged more open to the prospect. It looks unlikely that either
and telling us now that essentially “won” the same that if would be difficult to Mr Varadkar has main- party will countenance a sim-
they will do it in the next number of seats. reach 80 seats. tained his pre-election stance ilar arrangement this time
government?” C Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s “The numbers of that are and ruled out any Fine round. C

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