Ireland Faces Political Uncertainty as Coalition Negotiations Begin

Fianna Fáil emerges as the largest party in the election, but questions remain over leadership roles and coalition dynamics.

Fianna Fáil secured 48 seats in the election, becoming the largest party in the Dáil, while Fine Gael and Sinn Féin followed with reduced vote shares.
The previous coalition partners, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, are likely to renew their partnership, but they remain short of a majority and may need support from smaller parties or independents.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has avoided commenting on whether the rotating taoiseach arrangement will continue in a new coalition government.
Sinn Féin, despite increasing its seat count, saw a decline in its vote share, raising concerns about its ability to expand its electoral base.
Housing policy and immigration emerged as key issues in the election, with Sinn Féin maintaining a focus on housing but struggling to counter the rising prominence of immigration in political discourse.