EPIC Fianna FAIL

[marmar]

from the Guardian UK:




Ireland's next government will be a coalition between Fine Gael and Labour, it has emerged, as initial results from the general election indicated a crushing defeat for the main ruling party, Fianna Fáil, and the best electoral performance from centre-right opposition party Fine Gael since 1982.

Richard Bruton, enterprise spokesman for Fine Gael who will be on the incoming government's front bench, told the Observer that, despite its successes at the polls, the party was heading towards a power-sharing arrangement after Labour made impressive gains in the capital, Dublin.

Asked about the prospect of coalition with Labour, Bruton said: "Yes, I think that is the likely outcome. I know that there was a brief flirtation with the idea of an overall majority. I certainly see that the public didn't want that. If it ever was likely, it is not happening now."

In an election dominated by fear and anger over the financial implosion that led to an €80bn bailout by the European Union and International Monetary Fund, Ireland's once most successful political party Fianna Fáil suffered a historic and devastating defeat, with its support estimated at only 15%. Just months after agreeing to the bank bailout it was on course to be beaten into fourth place by a slew of independent candidates – its worst performance since Eamon De Valera founded it in the 1920s. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/26/fianna-fail-irish-general-election

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Good or bad? Anyone understand Irish politics? n/t

[annabanana]

2. good question. . "anyone" indeed . . . .n/t

[H2O Man]

3. Some good, some bad.

The ones we would tend to call "centrists" did not do well. More votes went to both the left and the right. There may be a lesson here -- that centrists policies in times of long-term economic hardships become unpopular.