The opening of ballot boxes at counting centers across Ireland marked the beginning of a marathon vote-counting exercise in the country’s national elections. An official exit poll suggested a close race among the three largest political parties – Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and Sinn Féin, along with smaller parties and independents.
The exit poll conducted by Ipsos B&A and published by RTÉ showed Fine Gael at 21%, Fianna Fáil at 19.5%, and Sinn Féin at 21.1%. By early Sunday morning, 36 seats of the Irish parliament had been filled, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil taking the lead.
Sinn Féin, which aims to reunite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, is facing challenges in forming a coalition government despite topping the popular vote. The outgoing government was led by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who have dominated Irish politics for decades.
The main concerns for voters in these elections were the cost of living, access to affordable housing, and immigration. Ireland’s housing shortage, rising house prices, and homelessness have become pressing issues. Immigration, including displaced Ukrainians and asylum-seekers from the Middle East and Africa, has also become a key challenge for the country.
With a system of proportional representation in place, smaller parties and independent candidates with strong local support have the opportunity to gain seats in the Dáil. The tight race and the dominant issues of housing and immigration reflect the complexities and concerns of Irish voters in the 2020 election.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com
