Ireland’s two main political foes were left considering an unlikely alliance on Saturday after exit polls suggested voters had rejected established parties – including the ruling coalition – in favour of protest groups and independents.
Enda Kenny’s government looked to be the latest victim of European voters’ growing antipathy to mainstream politics even though his premiership has seen Ireland bounce back from a bailout to become the continent’s fastest growing economy.
Kenny’s centre-right Fine Gael captured 25 to 26% of the vote, the exit polls said. That is far below the 36% it won five years ago and the 30% opinion poll rating it enjoyed at the start of campaigning.
With partners Labour in line to win just 7 to 8% of the ballot, the only viable option for government appeared to be a problematic alliance between historic rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, whose vote the poll showed rose to 23%.
“Either we could have another election now and do away with the count, or we’ll let them muddle around for a month or so and maybe they can think the unthinkable,” said Michael Marsh, a professor of politics at Trinity College Dublin.
“It’s hard to see any kind of government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail getting together.”
No previous Irish election has seen Fine Gael and Fianna Fail – heirs to opposing sides in a civil war almost a century ago – fall below a combined 50% of the vote.
Framed as a debate over how to distribute the profits of accelerating economic growth, Kenny’s campaign to “keep the recovery going” rang hollow with many voters yet to feel any impact after years of austerity.
