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Irish parties to meet for talks over forming new government | Irish parties to meet for talks over forming new government |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ireland’s two largest political parties have agreed to meet early next week for talks on how one might support the other to form a minority government and avoid a second general election. | Ireland’s two largest political parties have agreed to meet early next week for talks on how one might support the other to form a minority government and avoid a second general election. |
The smaller of the two, Fianna Fáil, on Thursday rejected an offer from the Fine Gael party of acting prime minister Enda Kenny for a grand coalition between the historic centre-right rivals. | |
That leaves a minority government, in which one party abstains in key parliamentary votes to allow the other party to govern, as the only realistic way to avoid a repeat of the 26 February general election. | That leaves a minority government, in which one party abstains in key parliamentary votes to allow the other party to govern, as the only realistic way to avoid a repeat of the 26 February general election. |
But both sides say the details of any such agreement would be crucial in determining its viability. | But both sides say the details of any such agreement would be crucial in determining its viability. |
The two parties published a statement saying the talks would “discuss how a viable minority government would work”. | |
Parliament is due to sit on Thursday to attempt for the third time to elect a new prime minister. | Parliament is due to sit on Thursday to attempt for the third time to elect a new prime minister. |
Kenny’s Fine Gael would be the strong favourite to lead a minority government, as it has 50 seats to Fianna Fáil’s 43 in the 158-seat chamber. But both would need the support of independent deputies and Fianna Fáil could theoretically edge ahead if it secures enough of them. |
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