Ireland Begins Three-Week Election Campaign to Choose Next Prime Minister

Ireland has entered a three-week campaign period following President Michael Higgins' decision to dissolve Parliament on Friday, setting the stage for an election on November 29. This election will decide the next leader and direction for the government, with Prime Minister Simon Harris calling for the vote earlier this week, months before the March deadline.

The current government, a coalition led by Harris’ centre-right Fine Gael party alongside its centre-left rival Fianna Fail, has governed Ireland since 2020. This historic alliance was formed after the 2020 election ended in a near tie, and despite differences, Harris said they worked together “for the good of the Irish people.” Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin initially served as prime minister, with Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022. Harris became prime minister after Varadkar stepped down earlier this year.

Sinn Fein, a left-wing nationalist party, won the largest share of votes in the 2020 election but was excluded from power due to a lack of coalition partners, as centrist parties remain wary of its historic ties to the Irish Republican Army.

Ireland has navigated numerous global and local challenges since the last election, including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic impacts of the war in Ukraine, and increasing immigration. Harris emphasized the coalition’s achievements, from managing the pandemic response to supporting Ukraine, addressing cost-of-living issues, and creating a financial buffer against potential future economic shocks. He highlighted Ireland’s commitment to maintaining financial resilience to avoid the austerity that the country faced during its 2010 economic crisis.

Housing, childcare, and immigration remain key issues for Irish voters as they prepare to make their decision, with both Harris and Martin expressing confidence in their parties’ abilities to lead Ireland through the coming years of economic uncertainty.

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