This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-ireland-feuding-factions-and-political-deadlock-could-mean-a-second-election/2016/02/28/414c789e-de63-11e5-9c36-e1902f6b6571_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ireland’s divided lawmakers mull awkward pacts, 2nd vote Ireland’s divided lawmakers mull awkward pacts, 2nd vote
(about 4 hours later)
DUBLIN — Ireland’s election has produced a Parliament full of feuding factions and no obvious road to a majority government, spurring lawmakers to warn Sunday that the country could face a protracted political deadlock followed by a second election.DUBLIN — Ireland’s election has produced a Parliament full of feuding factions and no obvious road to a majority government, spurring lawmakers to warn Sunday that the country could face a protracted political deadlock followed by a second election.
For the first time in Irish electoral history, the combined popular vote Friday for Ireland’s two political heavyweights — the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties — fell below 50 percent as voters infuriated by austerity measures shifted their support to a cacophony of anti-government voices.For the first time in Irish electoral history, the combined popular vote Friday for Ireland’s two political heavyweights — the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties — fell below 50 percent as voters infuriated by austerity measures shifted their support to a cacophony of anti-government voices.
The results left Ireland’s 158-member Parliament with at least nine factions and a legion of loose-cannon independents. With 12 seats still to be filled, the ruling Fine Gael won 46 seats, longtime foe Fianna Fail won 42, the Irish nationalist Sinn Fein won 22 and junior government partner Labour gained just six. An array of tiny parties, umbrella groups and parochial mavericks won the rest. The results left Ireland’s 158-member Parliament with at least nine factions and a legion of loose-cannon independents. With 12 seats still to be filled, the ruling Fine Gael won 46 seats, longtime foe Fianna Fail won 42, the Irish nationalist Sinn Fein won 22 and junior government partner Labour gained just six. An array of tiny parties, umbrella groups and parochial mavericks won the rest.
Leading members of Fianna Fail — which rebounded in this vote just five years after facing electoral ruin for nearly bankrupting the country — said they would find it hard to forge any coalition that keeps Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael party in power.Leading members of Fianna Fail — which rebounded in this vote just five years after facing electoral ruin for nearly bankrupting the country — said they would find it hard to forge any coalition that keeps Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael party in power.
The trouble is, Ireland’s voters have never produced a parliament like this before. And there is no third party strong enough to give Fianna Fail or Fine Gael a parliamentary majority of at least 79 seats. Both parties have ruled out working with Sinn Fein, the only party that could get either of them close. The trouble is, Ireland’s voters have never produced a Parliament like this before. And there is no third party strong enough to give Fianna Fail or Fine Gael a parliamentary majority of at least 79 seats. Both parties have ruled out working with Sinn Fein, the only party that could get either of them close.
When the new parliament convenes March 10 to elect a prime minister to appoint a government, both Kenny and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said that they will put themselves forward as rival candidates. When the new Parliament convenes March 10 to elect a prime minister to appoint a government, both Kenny and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said that they will put themselves forward as rival candidates.
Failure to create a new government would mean that Kenny’s five-year-old coalition with Labour will continue indefinitely in a lame-duck caretaker role.Failure to create a new government would mean that Kenny’s five-year-old coalition with Labour will continue indefinitely in a lame-duck caretaker role.
Governmental collapses and grueling coalition negotiations are par for the course in many parts of Europe, but this would be highly unusual in Ireland. The country prizes its political stability as a central selling point for the about 1,000 multinational companies that underpin Ireland’s exports-driven economy. Governmental collapses and grueling coalition negotiations are par for the course in many parts of Europe, but this would be highly unusual in Ireland. The country prizes its political stability as a central selling point for the about 1,000 multinational companies that underpin Ireland’s export-driven economy.
Leading lawmakers in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael said they cannot see how two parties so long committed to tearing each other down can form a united cabinet. The two evolved from opposite sides of the civil war that followed Ireland’s 1922 independence from Britain. Between them, they have led every Irish government over the past nine decades — but have never shared power.Leading lawmakers in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael said they cannot see how two parties so long committed to tearing each other down can form a united cabinet. The two evolved from opposite sides of the civil war that followed Ireland’s 1922 independence from Britain. Between them, they have led every Irish government over the past nine decades — but have never shared power.
Ireland has not needed back-to-back elections since 1982, but that specter loomed.Ireland has not needed back-to-back elections since 1982, but that specter loomed.