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| Irish PM's party 'leading vote' | Irish PM's party 'leading vote' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Irish leader Bertie Ahern appears to be heading for a third term in government, according to early results and exit polls from Thursday's general election. | Irish leader Bertie Ahern appears to be heading for a third term in government, according to early results and exit polls from Thursday's general election. |
| Opposition alliance partner, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, seemed to concede the election by saying he expected Mr Ahern to remain as Taoiseach. | Opposition alliance partner, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, seemed to concede the election by saying he expected Mr Ahern to remain as Taoiseach. |
| However, Tanaiste Michael McDowell, the deputy prime minister, has conceded that he is likely to lose his seat. | |
| The official counting is expected to take several days. | The official counting is expected to take several days. |
| The Fianna Fail-led coalition has 44.2% of the vote, against 36.2% for Fine Gael's centre-left alliance. | |
| The Republic of Ireland's system of proportional representation means that parties' representation in the 165-seat Dail (lower house of parliament) closely matches their percentage of the vote. | The Republic of Ireland's system of proportional representation means that parties' representation in the 165-seat Dail (lower house of parliament) closely matches their percentage of the vote. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY After 10 years, Bertie's team could do with a change. Our public services need more attention Micheál, Cork, Ireland Send us your comments The taoiseach has led a coalition government since 1997 - a period of sustained economic growth for the republic. | HAVE YOUR SAY After 10 years, Bertie's team could do with a change. Our public services need more attention Micheál, Cork, Ireland Send us your comments The taoiseach has led a coalition government since 1997 - a period of sustained economic growth for the republic. |
| But critics say his centrist Fianna Fail government should have done more to improve public services. | But critics say his centrist Fianna Fail government should have done more to improve public services. |
| The exit poll from national broadcaster RTE has Fianna Fail with 41.6% of Thursday's vote - little changed from its winning 2002 result. | The exit poll from national broadcaster RTE has Fianna Fail with 41.6% of Thursday's vote - little changed from its winning 2002 result. |
| But analysts say Mr Ahern may be looking for a new coalition partner, as the exit polls suggest his partners, the Progressive Democrats, are down a few percentage points - at 2.6% - from 2002. | But analysts say Mr Ahern may be looking for a new coalition partner, as the exit polls suggest his partners, the Progressive Democrats, are down a few percentage points - at 2.6% - from 2002. |
| Fine Gael is credited with 26.3% of the vote and its Labour Party alliance partner with 9.9%. | Fine Gael is credited with 26.3% of the vote and its Labour Party alliance partner with 9.9%. |
| The nationalist party Sinn Fein has 7.3% and the Greens have 4.8%. | The nationalist party Sinn Fein has 7.3% and the Greens have 4.8%. |