The complexities of the electoral system in Irelandknown as the Single Transferable Vote (STV, in its acronym in English), have given rise to a fragmented political scene in Parliament (Dáil) in recent decades. Until 10 parties They have been represented in the 160 seats of the lower house in this last legislature, a figure that is expected to be very similar after the general elections this Friday. But despite the great variety of minority parties and independent candidates with options for parliamentary representation, they are only three formations that have possibilities to take victory. These are your candidates:
Simon Harris (Fine Gael)
The current prime minister (taoiseach) came to office unexpectedly in April of this year, after the resignation of his predecessor, Leo Varadkar. At just 37 years old, he then became the youngest prime minister in the country’s history. Known as “el taoiseach de TikTok” Due to her skill and management of social networks, Harris has managed to regain the trust of voters in just a few months and has placed her party, the center-right Fine Gael, as favorite in the polls with about 22% of the votes.
He was Minister of Health between 2016 and 2020, a period during which the legalization of abortion in a historic referendum (a vote that he himself helped promote) and in which he achieved visibility during the first months of the pandemic. As head of the Government he has hardened its position on immigration matters – betting on a “firm and fair” reception system – and has implemented tax cuts to try to compensate families for the increased cost of living.
Michéal Martin (Fianna Fáil)
Michéal Martin is the leader of the centrist Fianna Fáila party that has governed Ireland for much of the last century. At the head of the formation since 2011, he was appointed prime minister in 2020 as part of the coalition agreement with Fine Gael, a position he held during the first half of the legislature. He is currently the deputy prime minister (tánaiste) and responsible for the Foreign Affairs and Defense portfolios. It has been very critical of Israel’s attacks on Gazawhich he has described as “genocidal”, and has participated in the recognition of the Palestinian State by Ireland.
His rivals blame him for a lack of determination when it comes to making difficult decisions, but his defenders maintain the opposite. Supported the gay marriage and the legalization of abortion in two referendums – against the most traditional sector of his party – and promoted the first anti-smoking law in bars and restaurants around the world. A rule that was approved in 2004, when he held the position of Minister of Health. Polls place Fianna Fáil as the second most voted force, with close to 20% of the votes.
Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Féin)
Mary Lou McDonald took charge of Sinn Féin in 2018, after 34 years of leadership by historic leader Gerry Adams. Since then he has made an effort to unlink to your party from your past like political arm of the IRA and has focused his speech on issues such as access to housing or the crisis of public services, leaving the debate on the reunification of Ireland in the background. This strategy helped Sinn Féin achieve victoria in percentage of vote for the first time in the 2020 general electionwith 25% of the votes.
Under his mandate, the first Government led by Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland has also been formed, after years of domination by the unionist parties. A historic moment that opened the door for the first time to the possibility of the Irish nationalist party governing on both sides of the border. The internal scandals and the rise of anti-immigration speeches In Ireland, however, they have made a dent in the party, which has seen its dominance in the polls fade in just two years, going from 36% in voting intention to the current 19%.
