Ireland Forms New Center-Right Coalition Government

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael reach agreement to share leadership, backed by independent lawmakers.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, two center-right parties, have finalized a coalition agreement to govern Ireland, supported by a group of independent lawmakers.
The coalition will hold a majority of 95 out of 174 seats in the Dáil, Ireland's parliament, ensuring a stable governing bloc.
Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, is expected to serve as Taoiseach (prime minister) for the first half of the term, with Simon Harris of Fine Gael taking over mid-term, following a similar arrangement in the previous government.
The new government excludes Sinn Féin, the left-wing nationalist party that secured 39 seats in the last election, as both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ruled out forming a coalition with them.
The coalition agreement comes after the Green Party, a former governing partner, suffered significant losses in the November elections, leading to their exclusion from the new government.