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Dramatic Irish election changes politics there forever

Collapse of Fianna Fail creates new political landscape

JAMES O'BRIEN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, February 27, 2011, 7:30 AM

Updated Sunday, February 27, 2011, 7:30 AM

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Incoming Prime Minister Enda Kenny

Incoming Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has described the dramatic Irish election events as a “democratic revolution ... they didn’t take to the streets but they’ve wreaked vengeance on those who let them down.”

Kenny was speaking at a time when it seemed certain that the Fianna Fail party, which has been Ireland’s largest party since 1927, would eventually end up with 20 to 22 seats, down from 77 seats in the 2007 election. Because of the complicated Irish electoral system the complete picture will not be available until Sunday evening at the earliest.

The complete collapse of the Fianna Fail vote will be the main story of a tumultuous Irish election which redrew the face of Irish politics.

Whether the party can ever find its way back to the pinnacle of Irish political life remains a huge question mark now.

Fine Gael, the party led by Kenny, will be the biggest beneficiary and are expected to come in with around 75-77 seats in the 166 seat Parliament.

The Labor Party also had a very successful election, especially in the Dublin area, and are expected to reach the 35-37 seat mark.

It is widely expected that Labor and Fine Gael will form a coalition government, but there remains a small possibility that Fine Gael could govern with the help of independent candidates.

Sinn Fein also made spectacular progress and are expected to end up with 15-16 seats. Party leader Gerry Adams led the way with a poll topping performance in Co. Louth.

The Green Party, Fianna Fail’s coalition party, were completely wiped out, another sign of the anger against the incumbent government.

The other incredible landmark was the election of 12-15 independents as voters abandoned mainstream parties in droves.

Nster.com

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18 Comments

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mamaginnty | Mar 01, 2011, 09:28 AM EST

I just do not get this about Gerry, he was one of the main guys to help with the peace process. The IRA, well the first shot that was fired came from a loyalist gun, if you were a catholic you did not get a job, you were thrown into ghetto type dwellings. you were forgotten about, until the orange marches started, not just a week or too before the main orange parade, but for months before, "Practice marches" they were called would stamp through the catholic areas banging the drums and saying it was the popes head. There was so much hatred before the "troubles" even started. They fought for their lives as well as their country. The old IRA did the same for the land they stood on, they killed but the brits killed ten fold more, but no television or internet to spout propaganda.

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moygannon | Mar 01, 2011, 12:24 AM EST

Loyal Citizen speaks of crimes against humanity Co. Louth just elected an expert on the subject.

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mamaginnty | Feb 28, 2011, 03:20 PM EST

when I said change, I did not mean within the next 4 years. Time will tell.

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hyattsville | Feb 28, 2011, 03:16 PM EST

Well I think that the people have risen and political leaders now know that they will be held accountable. I believe that a fine gael labor coalition will pull together an intelligent and effective government. I am ecstatic to see the virtual exorcism of Fianna Fail. Pearse Doherty and Mary Lou McDonald undeniably have charisma and promise and seem to be empathetic people but I will never trust big boss Gerry and he is the reason I would never ever vote Sinn Fein.

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mamaginnty | Feb 28, 2011, 12:29 PM EST

How kind of you to correct my spelling, what a dumbo I am. Pearse it is.

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pilib04 | Feb 28, 2011, 12:09 PM EST

First off, the obvious. Doherty's first name is Pearse, think Ireland's first President! The other Pearce is an actor. As for the change forever, that's a laugh given who will be in charge. What change can we expect from Fine Gael? A little more to the right and anti-trade union. What other change??? Labour will enjoy its role in the new anti-worker government. Labour will reap what they sow in the next election, similar to the Greens. Speaking of whom, how did they ever sink so low??? I guess, if we pay attention to Labour, in the next few months we'll have the answer to that rhetorical question. The real change is the increase of Sinn Fein's vote. That is change we can believe in (to paraphrase an American President)!

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mamaginnty | Feb 28, 2011, 11:18 AM EST

I am just so glad that F.Gael have to have some sort of coalition, be it small, that they do not have full control. Also glad that Sinn Fein got so many seats, because they will not take any s..t from F.Gael. Pearce Doherty is no lick a..e. and not afraid to speak out, neither is Mary Lou. They are already stirring the pot about the enormous wages the T.Ds and ministers get. Sometimes more than their wage in their so called expenses. Pearce is only excepting the basic industrial wage and no expenses claims, one of the main reasons the 2 top parties do not want to listen to S.Fein. Fianna Fail, led Ireland for so long with no real compaints, crookery well that was going on in all the parties. F.F made one huge blunder this time and are paying for it, but I am bloody sure F.G or Lab. would have done the same ..or worse. Kenny is a slimey eel who hid out from any of the debates, to afraid he would open his mouth and put a big foot in it. Gilmore just a twit who thinks he's it. I think F.F in time will pick themselves up, dust themselves down and start all over again, all new faces and hopefully a very changed goverment if Sinn Fein stand up to them. ps. did anyone see the speech that young Pearce Doherty made in the Dail just before Cowan threw in the towel. Fare play, he really gave it to them.

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MrSinatra | Feb 28, 2011, 09:53 AM EST

boy, some comments here are fit for rubber rooms. regardless, no gov't can have much success given what they're inheriting. its gonna be a long road to hoe.

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dumpailte | Feb 28, 2011, 05:07 AM EST

Let's see how much of their manifesto is hot air. Yes, it was time for a change, but not a time to consider throwing the irish language away. Let's hope there is a considered and constructive approach to our language and our Senate. Fine Gael deserve their day in the sun and we wish them the best. Fianna Fail has a Party to rebuild and reinvent and we wish them well laso.

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Goosey68 | Feb 27, 2011, 05:04 PM EST

ClarDubh ...keep smoking what you're smoking. Too funny.

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Silling | Feb 27, 2011, 12:09 PM EST

I come from a Fianna Fail dynasty and it is a tragedy this result. But I am glad to see that Gerry Adams got elected in Louth. It would be great if he became president of Ireland.

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ClarDubh | Feb 27, 2011, 10:43 AM EST

This will be the most right-wing government since the British were still here. According to the policies of FG and Labour, the Seanad will be abolished; the Irish language will be removed as the official language; the Consitution will be abolished or made ineffective; if there still is a constitution, a provision will be introduced making it legal for the children of the poor to be snatched away for adoption by the rich; and so on. None of this was discussed during a three-week "campaign" that was not a campaign but a media event. Fine Gael's campaign was directed by Pat Cox who also ran the campaign for the "Yes" side in Lisbon 2 (more "democracy" for you - one of the Yes side's tactics was to paint No voters as terrorists). This government will also implement IMF directives that will bankrupt the country forever, and will alienate its resources. Perhaps someone could enlighten me as to how "democracy" has anything to do with this process, or how it differs from the control of Africa and Latin America by the IMF apart from the necessity of killing lots of people that is.

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cillowen | Feb 27, 2011, 10:15 AM EST

it should be gerry's party to lead the van instead of child-like figure.

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Portia777 | Feb 27, 2011, 10:08 AM EST

He has the stupid grin of a clown. He really wants to say something , but knows he cannot.

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CaptainTom | Feb 27, 2011, 10:04 AM EST

Sounds pretty much like what happened here in the US in 2010. Hope it doesn't bite the Irish voters in the rear end!

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