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| Irish election: Exit polls suggest Fine Gael have narrow lead over Fianna Fáil | Irish election: Exit polls suggest Fine Gael have narrow lead over Fianna Fáil |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Exit polls in the Republic of Ireland's general election suggest Fine Gael will remain the largest party, but with only a narrow lead over the main opposition, Fianna Fáil. | Exit polls in the Republic of Ireland's general election suggest Fine Gael will remain the largest party, but with only a narrow lead over the main opposition, Fianna Fáil. |
| All indications are that the outgoing Fine Gael-Labour coalition cannot be returned. | All indications are that the outgoing Fine Gael-Labour coalition cannot be returned. |
| Many believe this could make negotiations on forming a new government extremely difficult. | Many believe this could make negotiations on forming a new government extremely difficult. |
| Polls show Sinn Féin, smaller parties and Independents are also doing well. | Polls show Sinn Féin, smaller parties and Independents are also doing well. |
| This means that the final outcome of many seats will depend on transfers in later counts. | This means that the final outcome of many seats will depend on transfers in later counts. |
| Pressure | Pressure |
| Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have already indicated that they would not go into coalition with each other. | Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have already indicated that they would not go into coalition with each other. |
| However, pressure is expected to mount on them to come to some form of arrangement that may take several weeks to arrive at. | However, pressure is expected to mount on them to come to some form of arrangement that may take several weeks to arrive at. |
| In the meantime, there will be many twists and turns, including possible leadership changes in some of the parties. | In the meantime, there will be many twists and turns, including possible leadership changes in some of the parties. |
| An exit poll commissioned by the Irish Times suggested Fine Gael will remain the largest party with 26%. | An exit poll commissioned by the Irish Times suggested Fine Gael will remain the largest party with 26%. |
| Fianna Fáil appears to be close behind on 23%. | Fianna Fáil appears to be close behind on 23%. |
| The Irish broadcaster, RTE, unveiled its own exit poll on Saturday morning indicating broadly similar results. | The Irish broadcaster, RTE, unveiled its own exit poll on Saturday morning indicating broadly similar results. |
| It indicates first preference support for Fine Gael is at 24.8%, support for Labour is at 7.1%, Fianna Fáil at 21.1% and Sinn Féin at 16%. | It indicates first preference support for Fine Gael is at 24.8%, support for Labour is at 7.1%, Fianna Fáil at 21.1% and Sinn Féin at 16%. |
| It also suggests that one third of the electorate voted for Independents or smaller parties. | It also suggests that one third of the electorate voted for Independents or smaller parties. |
| The Irish Times poll puts Sinn Féin at 15%, well ahead of Labour on 8%. | The Irish Times poll puts Sinn Féin at 15%, well ahead of Labour on 8%. |
| If borne out by the count, the vote shares would result in a hung Dáil (parliament), but with Fine Gael still taking the largest number of seats. | If borne out by the count, the vote shares would result in a hung Dáil (parliament), but with Fine Gael still taking the largest number of seats. |
| Ireland's complex voting system means that the count may last all weekend. | Ireland's complex voting system means that the count may last all weekend. |
| The first results are expected shortly. | The first results are expected shortly. |
| 'Strategy' | 'Strategy' |
| Fine Gael's director of elections Brian Hayes said he did not believe that the party's campaign strategy had cost it votes, but rather that the public was simply unhappy with the measures taken by the government during its term. | Fine Gael's director of elections Brian Hayes said he did not believe that the party's campaign strategy had cost it votes, but rather that the public was simply unhappy with the measures taken by the government during its term. |
| "There was no problem with the strategy. The difficulty was the government was unpopular," he said. | "There was no problem with the strategy. The difficulty was the government was unpopular," he said. |
| Fianna Fáíl's director of elections Billy Kelleher told RTE it was too early to judge his party's performance as a lot of seats will go down to the wire. | Fianna Fáíl's director of elections Billy Kelleher told RTE it was too early to judge his party's performance as a lot of seats will go down to the wire. |
| However, he said early indications were that the party had made a huge improvement across the country. | However, he said early indications were that the party had made a huge improvement across the country. |
| Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said it had been a hugely successful election for his party. | Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said it had been a hugely successful election for his party. |
| "My sense is that a government will be formed, I don't think there will be a second election within weeks. How stable a government, that remains to be seen," he said. | "My sense is that a government will be formed, I don't think there will be a second election within weeks. How stable a government, that remains to be seen," he said. |
| The general secretary of the Labour Party, Brian McDowell, said the poll results had made it a "very disappointing" day for the party. | |
| "The people have spoken, we'll have to reflect early next week, but it does look like Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are the only likely combination at this stage," he added. | |
| Turnout | Turnout |
| Over three million people were entitled to vote in Friday's poll in 40 constituencies, with early indications that turnout stood at about 66%. | Over three million people were entitled to vote in Friday's poll in 40 constituencies, with early indications that turnout stood at about 66%. |
| Voters were electing 157 members of parliament, known as TDs. The ceann comhairle (speaker) is automatically returned. | Voters were electing 157 members of parliament, known as TDs. The ceann comhairle (speaker) is automatically returned. |
| Observers are predicting that it will be hard for any party to put together a coalition, which needs to have the support of 79 TDs. | Observers are predicting that it will be hard for any party to put together a coalition, which needs to have the support of 79 TDs. |
| As for Sinn Féin, it will almost certainly improve on the 14 seats it currently has. Whether or not it comes close to doubling that number will become clearer as counting progresses. | As for Sinn Féin, it will almost certainly improve on the 14 seats it currently has. Whether or not it comes close to doubling that number will become clearer as counting progresses. |
| The campaign was fought mainly over economic issues, with the government parties asking voters for their support to keep the recovery going at a time when international storm clouds are gathering. | The campaign was fought mainly over economic issues, with the government parties asking voters for their support to keep the recovery going at a time when international storm clouds are gathering. |
| But the opposition parties countered that not everyone, especially outside of middle-class Dublin, is yet benefiting from the up-turn. | But the opposition parties countered that not everyone, especially outside of middle-class Dublin, is yet benefiting from the up-turn. |
| That perceived lack of fairness is expected to hurt the coalition parties. | That perceived lack of fairness is expected to hurt the coalition parties. |
| The Republic of Ireland has had the biggest growing economy in the eurozone for the last two years. | The Republic of Ireland has had the biggest growing economy in the eurozone for the last two years. |
| In the last election five years ago, voters punished the once dominant Fianna Fáil for its role in the economic crash that required an EU-IMF bailout. | In the last election five years ago, voters punished the once dominant Fianna Fáil for its role in the economic crash that required an EU-IMF bailout. |
| Led by Enda Kenny, the current coalition had been in power since March 2011. | Led by Enda Kenny, the current coalition had been in power since March 2011. |
| It is being challenged by 13 other parties, as well as a number of independents among the 552 candidates standing for election. | It is being challenged by 13 other parties, as well as a number of independents among the 552 candidates standing for election. |
| TDs will be elected according to the single transferable vote (STV) system, in which candidates have to reach a quota, before their surplus votes are distributed to others. | TDs will be elected according to the single transferable vote (STV) system, in which candidates have to reach a quota, before their surplus votes are distributed to others. |