Ireland is currently in the process of tallying votes from its general election, with an exit poll indicating a tight race between the three main political parties. The left-wing opposition party Sinn Féin holds a narrow lead, according to the poll.
Vote counting began at 09:00 GMT on Saturday, with partial results expected throughout the day. However, a final result may take several days to materialize due to Ireland’s proportional representation system, where votes for eliminated candidates are redistributed in multiple rounds of counting.
The exit poll, conducted by Ipsos B&A on Friday, showed Sinn Féin leading with 21.1% of the vote, followed closely by Ireland’s two center-right parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, which are coalition partners in the outgoing government. Fine Gael garnered 21% of the vote, while Fianna Fáil secured 19.5%. If the poll’s predictions hold, it is likely that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, long-standing political powerhouses in Ireland, will retain control, though they would need to form a coalition with smaller parties to secure an 88-seat majority.
Sinn Féin’s President, Mary Lou McDonald, expressed optimism that her party could unseat the center-right establishment, describing the election as “a historic day” with the potential to bring about a new government focused on change.
During the previous parliamentary term, leadership of the government rotated between the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with Simon Harris of Fine Gael serving as the most recent taoiseach (prime minister). Harris, Ireland’s youngest-ever prime minister at 38, had been in a strong position when he called for a snap election three weeks ago. However, his party’s standing weakened, especially after a viral video surfaced showing him appearing dismissive and rude toward a care worker on the campaign trail.
The election campaign, which lasted three weeks, was dominated by contentious debates over housing, the cost of living, public spending, and immigration. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil emphasized their pro-business, pro-EU stances, arguing that returning them to power would provide stability in the face of global uncertainties and external risks. Ireland’s economy relies heavily on foreign direct investment and substantial corporate tax revenues from multinational corporations, particularly in the tech and pharmaceutical sectors, mainly from the United States.
