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| Irish Greens back coalition deal | |
| (about 21 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. |
| The party's membership voted overwhelmingly to back the deal, a day after it was struck with the party's six legislators. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 GreensFianna 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. |