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Irish Greens join Ahern coalition | Irish Greens join Ahern coalition |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Republic of Ireland's Green Party has agreed to join Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail in forming a coalition government. | The Republic of Ireland's Green Party has agreed to join Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail in forming a coalition government. |
If ratified by the party's membership on Wednesday, the agreement will see the Greens in an Irish government for the first time. | If ratified by the party's membership on Wednesday, the agreement will see the Greens in an Irish government for the first time. |
The deal means it is now likely that Mr Ahern will be re-elected taoiseach when the parliament convenes on Thursday. | The deal means it is now likely that Mr Ahern will be re-elected taoiseach when the parliament convenes on Thursday. |
The election on 24 May returned Mr Ahern but without a clear majority. | |
Fianna Fail won 78 of the country's 166 parliamentary seats last month, but Mr Ahern's coalition partners the Progressive Democrats saw their tally drop from eight to two. | |
So Mr Ahern needs the Greens to give him the margin he needs. | |
New allies | New allies |
The backing of the Greens' six legislators was secured after nine days of tough negotiations. | The backing of the Greens' six legislators was secured after nine days of tough negotiations. |
Concessions from Fianna Fail on environmental and transportation policy finally secured their support. | Concessions from Fianna Fail on environmental and transportation policy finally secured their support. |
Fianna Fail made policy concessions to win the GreensGreen Party leader Trevor Sargent said his negotiators "believe that we have a basis for an agreement on a programme for government which we are now going to present to our members." | Fianna Fail made policy concessions to win the GreensGreen Party leader Trevor Sargent said his negotiators "believe that we have a basis for an agreement on a programme for government which we are now going to present to our members." |
Fianna Fail won 78 seats in the 166-seat assembly, but a decline in the vote of its previous coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats, forced Mr Ahern to look for more new allies. | Fianna Fail won 78 seats in the 166-seat assembly, but a decline in the vote of its previous coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats, forced Mr Ahern to look for more new allies. |
Besides the Greens, Mr Ahern can count on several independents and two surviving Progressive Democrats. | Besides the Greens, Mr Ahern can count on several independents and two surviving Progressive Democrats. |
The main opposition Fine Gael polled well, winning 51 seats, but its potential coalition partner Labour fared less well. | The main opposition Fine Gael polled well, winning 51 seats, but its potential coalition partner Labour fared less well. |
Even if the Greens had instead agreed to join Fine Gael and Labour, the three parties combined could not have overtaken Fianna Fail and the PDs. | Even if the Greens had instead agreed to join Fine Gael and Labour, the three parties combined could not have overtaken Fianna Fail and the PDs. |
The Republic of Ireland's system of proportional representation means that parties' representation in the Dail (lower house of parliament) closely matches their percentage of the vote. | The Republic of Ireland's system of proportional representation means that parties' representation in the Dail (lower house of parliament) closely matches their percentage of the vote. |
Bertie Ahern has led a coalition government since 1997 - a period of sustained economic growth for the Republic. | Bertie Ahern has led a coalition government since 1997 - a period of sustained economic growth for the Republic. |