Sinn Féin Falls Short in Irish Election, Faces Challenges on Unity Goals

Despite securing its largest-ever team in the Dáil, Sinn Féin's vote share dropped significantly, raising questions about its strategy for Irish reunification.

• Sinn Féin won 39 seats in the 2024 Irish General Election, finishing behind Fianna Fáil with 48 seats and Fine Gael with 38.
• The party's vote share dropped to 19%, a significant decline from its 24.5% in the 2020 election, marking its first vote share decrease in 35 years.
• Leader Mary Lou McDonald insisted the results do not hinder Sinn Féin's campaign for Irish reunification, emphasizing the party's ambition remains intact.
• Sinn Féin's decline has been attributed to a fractured voter base and its handling of contentious issues like immigration during 2023 civil unrest in Dublin.
• The election outcome leaves Sinn Féin in opposition for another term, complicating its push for a border poll on Irish unity before 2030.

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