The Ipsos B&A poll released as voting ended at 23CET showed that the centre-right party Fine Gael was leading with 21% of the vote, followed by its coalition partner Fianna Fáil at 19.5% and Sinn Féin at 21.1%. The three biggest parties in Ireland’s parliamentary elections seem to have won roughly equal shares of the vote, indicating the country is likely headed for another coalition government. Counting of ballots will start on Saturday morning due to the complex proportional representation system used in Ireland.
Sinn Féin, which aimed for change, expressed optimism about potentially emerging as the largest political party from the elections. However, forming a coalition government may prove challenging, as both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have refused to work with Sinn Féin in the past.
The biggest issues dominating the campaign trail were the cost of living and access to affordable housing in Ireland. The country is facing an acute housing shortage, leading to soaring house prices, rising rents, and growing homelessness. Immigration has also become a recent challenge, with tensions arising due to the arrival of displaced individuals from conflict-affected regions.
Ireland’s unique system of proportional representation allows smaller parties and independent candidates with strong local support to gain seats in parliament. Despite the absence of a significant far-right party in Ireland, anti-immigrant sentiment is being fueled by social media influencers and independent candidates in various districts. The election results will shed light on whether Irish voters are in favor of continuity or seeking new political directions amidst global challenges.
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