Irish general election, 26 February 2016

Summary:

On February 26th, Ireland went to the polls to elect 158 representatives for Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of parliament.

Further information:

The government in place since the last set of elections in 2011 was formed of a coalition between Fine Gael, a centre-right grouping led by Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach (prime minister), and the Irish Labour party.

The country was hit hard by the financial crisis of 2007-9, and forced to accept a bail-out programme worth €67.5 billion ($75 billion) from the EU and the IMF in order to avoid the collapse of its banking system, but Kenny's government managed to bounce back and Ireland exited its bail-out programme in December 2013. However, Fine Gael was also accused it of walking off with the British Conservatives’ clothes, copying several of their policies, making them lose popularity among the voters.
Ahead of the elections, the polls suggested that the present coalition, if re-elected, might need the help of smaller parties, such as the Social Democrats, Renua Ireland and a raft of independents, to continue in government. Another option considered was a coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, albeit this had been ruled out in the past by leaders of both parties.

Following the election, Kenny's Fine Gael with 50 of the 158 seats available remained the largest party in the Dáil despite having lost 26 seats. The main opposition party Fianna Fáil increased its seats to 44. Sinn Féin became the third-most numerous party with 23 deputies. The Labour Party, which was part of the coalition with 37 seats in 2011 fell to just seven deputies. Smaller parties and independent politicians made up the remaining 34 seats.

Kenny sought an agreement with Fianna Fáil to form a government, and negotiations continued through most of April. An agreement was finally reached for a Fine Gael-led minority government on 29 April, 63 days after the election, and the Dáil formally re-elected Kenny as Taoiseach on 6 May. Kenny is the first Taoiseach from Fine Gael to win re-election.
This resulted in Ireland's first minority government since 1989: a coalition led by Fine Gael with the support of nine independent politicians, and with a formal agreement that Fianna Fáil would abstain on matters of confidence and supply. 

Kenny tendered his resignation as Taoiseach on 13 June 2017, and was succeeded by Leo Varadkar, who had been elected to succeed him as Leader of Fine Gael.

Commentary and Analysis

IFES: Election Guide: Ireland http://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/105/

Robert Schuman Foundation: European Elections Monitor: Ireland http://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/the-european-elections-monitor/16-ireland

Euronews, 02/02/2016: Irish unemployment falls to 8.6 percent on eve of election call http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ireland-economy-employment-idUKKCN0VB141

The Irish Times, 03/02/2016: Housing is hot issue in election that is officially kicking off https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/-1.2519939

The Irish Times, 03/02/2016: Housing crisis biggest election issue, says AAA-PBP https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/-1.2520704

The Guardian, 03/02/2016: Irish general election to take place on 26 February http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/03/irish-general-election-to-take-place-on-26-february

EUObserver, 04/02/2016: Economy dominates Ireland election campaign https://euobserver.com/political/132133

The Guardian, 18/02/2016: Ireland's general election – the Guardian briefing http://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/feb/18/irelands-general-election-the-guardian-briefing

The Guardian, 20/02/2016: Irish election haunted by Easter 1916 – but this time smaller parties could decide it http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/20/irish-elections-dail-enda-kenny-easter-1916

Politico, 22/02/2016: ‘All-Ireland whingers’ ready to dump incumbents http://www.politico.eu/article/all-ireland-whingers-ready-to-dump-incumbents-elections-austerity-enda-kenny/

The Economist, 22/02/2016: The Economist explains. Ireland’s general election http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2016/02/economist-explains-15

BBC News, 23/02/2016: Irish election: Sinn Féin 'expected to do well' even if there is a hung parliament http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35631321

Politico, 24/02/2016: Ghosts of 1916 haunt Irish election http://www.politico.eu/article/ghosts-of-1916-easter-rising-haunt-irish-election/

Blog: Open Europe, 24/02/2016: Uncertain Irish election may see another EU state facing tricky coalition talks http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/uncertain-irish-election-may-see-another-eu-state-facing-tricky-coalition-talks/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 26/02/2016: The 2016 Irish general election: a final look at the parties and the polling http://bit.ly/1oDJXbD

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News

Raidió Teilifís Éireann: Election 2016 http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/

The Irish Times, 01/02/2016: Taoiseach expected to announce election date on Tuesday https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/-1.2518052

Politico, 03/02/2016: Ireland calls elections for February 26 http://www.politico.eu/article/ireland-calls-elections-for-february-26/

The irish Times, 03/02/2016: Election 2016: President Higgins dissolves 31st Dáil https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/-1.2520562

BBC News, 03/02/2016: Taoiseach Enda Kenny announces Irish election date http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35480566

The Wall Street Journal, 03/02/2016: Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny Calls Election for February http://www.wsj.com/articles/irish-prime-minister-calls-election-for-february-1454495429

Irish Independent, 03/02/2016: Dáil dissolved as Taoiseach Enda Kenny calls General Election for Friday 26 February http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/election-2016/news/dil-dissolved-as-taoiseach-enda-kenny-calls-general-election-for-friday-26-february-34419868.html

RTÉ, 03/02/2016: General Election to take place on 26 February http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0203/764971-general-election-called/

EurActiv, 03/02/2016: Irish PM calls election for 26 February http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/irish-pm-calls-election-26-february-321553

EUObserver, 25/02/2016: Uncertain post-crisis Ireland goes to polls https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/132440

Deutsche Welle, 26/02/2016: Ireland votes in parliamentary election amid anti-austerity mood http://dw.com/p/1I2eS

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