People in Ireland are being called on Friday to elect a new parliament. Nearly 3.7 million people can vote. In recent polls, the three largest parties were neck and neck.
These are coalition partners Fine Gael led by Prime Minister Simon Harris and Fianna Fail led by Deputy Micheál Martin, as well as the strongest opposition force Sinn Féin. This means that it is possible that the two center-right parties will continue their cooperation in the EU member state. They currently govern in a three-way coalition with the Greens.
The previous partners have ruled out any collaboration with left-wing nationalist Sinn Féin, once considered the political arm of the terrorist group IRA. The party loudly advocates Irish reunification and is the strongest force in the neighboring British province of Northern Ireland.
Complicated proportional representation
Nearly 3.7 of the 5.1 million residents are eligible to vote. The polling stations open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. The votes will not be counted until Saturday at 10 a.m. Due to the complicated system of proportional representation, it is unclear when a result will be known. During the European elections it took a week before all mandates were awarded.
An urgent problem in Ireland at the moment is the housing shortage (see video above). Despite having a job, many young people cannot afford housing and continue to live with their parents. Recently, accusations from right-wing populists have increased that the influx of migrants is further reducing living space.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
