Fine Gael is banking on a late swing to the incumbent, akin to the U.K. general election last May — the party has even taken advice from Conservative Party strategists. But with almost one in three voters saying they will back smaller independent parties and candidates – and with up to 20 percent expected to vote for the republicans Sinn Féin — the governing parties could find it very difficult to return with the 79 seats required for a majority. Not for the first time in Irish politics, lengthy post-election coalition negotiations are on the cards.
Read Full Article »
