Irish voters are choosing their next prime minister in an election where frustration with economic austerity and a housing crisis have fueled the rise of Sinn Fein.
Election posters are displayed on lampposts outside the Irish Prime Minister offices in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Irish voters will choose a new parliament on Saturday, and may have bad news for the two parties that have dominated the country’s politics for a century, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Polls show a surprise surge for Sinn Fein, the party historically linked to the Irish Republican Army and its violent struggle for a united Ireland.
Voting stations opened at 7 a.m. on Saturday and a national exit poll is expected to be released shortly after they close at 10 p.m. The last pre-election opinion polls showed Sinn Fein in a virtual dead heat with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s Fine Gael and the opposition Fianna Fail, the two parties that have dominated Irish politics since independence.
Sinn Fein is a major force in Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., but has long been a minor political player in the Republic, shunned by the bigger parties because of its ties to the IRA. But the party’s left-wing proposals for tackling Ireland’s housing crisis and creaking health care system are striking a chord.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
You Can Make Tiki Drinks with This Irish WhiskeyGenerally mellow, light and likeable, Irish whiskey is a dream to mix with. And lately, we’ve seen more and more innovation in the category—new distillers,…
Read more »
Golden Irish boy abroad, unloved at home, Leo Varadkar braces for electoral defeatIrish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar could face being kicked out of office, after an election campaign that has proved much more of a struggle than he bargained for
Read more »
Irish Food Brand Wants To Get A Piece Of The U.S. Plant-Based MarketStrong Roots is an Irish plant-based food brand that wants to get Americans to eat its vegetables. It is moving into U.S. supermarkets at a time when demand is growing for plant-based and vegan products.
Read more »
You Can Probably Have Sex 6 Weeks After Giving Birth—But You Don’t Have to. And it Might Suck'Even with all the expert advice in the world, I can tell you from experience that navigating these waters can be tiring, fraught, and messy (literally), even with a respectful partner and decent communication. And that’s OK.' -ksenapathy
Read more »