“The option of a majority government is gone, the option of a Fine Gael/Labor government is gone…so I need to know the results of all the parties before I decide what is the best thing to do given my duty and responsibility as taoiseach and head of government”, said Irish prime minister Enda Kenny in a statement.
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As the Republic of Ireland awaits the result of its election, Dr Kathryn Simpson, expert in Irish politics and a lecturer at The University of Manchester, is available for interview this week.
However, he declined to say Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney was wrong to say its future could form part of talks with Fianna Fáil or other parties.
Mr. Kenny’s Fine Gael-Labour Party’s coalition was routed in last week’s election, and only an alliance with civil war enemies Fianna Fail offers a prospect of stable, two-party government.
In that election Fine Gael became the largest party with 76 seats and it has retained that status, despite losing 26 seats. Fierce rival Fianna Fail comes in second with 22.9%.
Speaking at a press event at Collins Barracks in Dublin City, Mr Kenny said the retention of Irish Water remains a “fundamental” issue for his party.
The country now faces what are expected to be lengthy inter-party negotiations to form a new government.
Fianna Fail has said it will put leader Micheal Martin forward as an alternative prime minister on March 10 but a senior member of the party said it was unlikely that either Martin or Kenny would garner enough support to win the vote.
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The swing to anti-establishment and anti-austerity parties echoed recent election in other eurozone countries like Spain and Portugal which have also produced political uncertainty.
