Irish PM Brian Cowen accepts election defeat

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: AFP

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen conceded defeat Saturday in the general election, after his ruling Fianna Fail party was crushed by voters angry over the economy and an EU-IMF bailout.

"Clearly today there wasn't support for our party in great numbers. We accept as democrats the outcome," Cowen told RTE television after exit polls suggested Fianna Fail was set to lose two-thirds of its parliamentary seats.
...
Fianna Fail's new leader, Micheal Martin, had moments earlier issued his congratulations to the winners of the election, the opposition Fine Gael, on their "oustanding success".

Read more: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20110226/twl-irish-pm-brian-cowen-accepts-electio-f363c67.html

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The head of Ireland's opposition Fine Gael party on Saturday claimed victory in the general election, saying he had been given a mandate to form the next government.

"This country has given my party a massive endorsement to provide a stable and strong government," Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny told reporters in his constituency in the west of Ireland.

Of the 29 members of parliament so far officially elected to the 31st Irish parliament, ruling Fianna Fail has won only two seats, 11 are from the Fine Gael party, nine are from Labour, two are from Sinn Fein, one is from the Socialist Party and four are independents.

Final results for the 166 member parliament are expected on Sunday morning, but an initial exit poll suggest that Fine Gael will not secure a majority of the seats in parliament.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14875873,00.html

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[glinda]

2. What does this mean? Conservative?

[Hissyspit]

3. Historic political party collapse:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-ireland-vote-idUSTRE71O1PP20110226?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_%20com&WT.z_smid_dest=Twitter

Outgoing finance minister Brian Lenihan looked set to be the only party member to secure one of Dublin's 47 seats, coming in a humiliating fourth place behind the hard-left Socialist party.

Political dynasties fell across the country. Sean Haughey, son of one of the party's best known former leaders, Charles Haughey, and grandson of one of its most revered, Sean Lemass, looked set for defeat.

- snip -

Exit poll predictions of 20 seats, down from 78 four years ago would be the worst collapse ever recorded in Ireland.

That would leave the party competing for third place with another historic rival, Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army.

[Maeve]

4. Conservative, but...will probably join with Labour, which is left-wing

And will mitigate, somewhat. American labels don't fit Irish parties too comfortably.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Not really...minority coalition government is the more important part

Will probably be short term as well

[DJ13]

5. You mean the Irish voters dont appreciate being forced to pay

.... for the financial mistakes of the upper class?

I hope capitols around the world that are considering implementing their own austerity consider the implications.

[pam4water]

6. Will this make John McCain stop pointing at the Irish corporate tax structure as a model for the USA

Probably not XD

[RedCloud]

9. Irish it would

[JaneQPublic]

8. Article from The Irish Times

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0226/breaking8.html

Results from constituencies across the country are showing electoral meltdown for Fianna Fáil, with Fine Gael poised to lead the next government. While poised to fall short of an overall majority, Fine Gael is on course for its strongest showing in more than 28 years.

The Labour Party is enjoying its best result in a general election to date, with Fianna Fáil suffering its worst since the foundation of the party.

Latest counting suggests Fine Gael will win 76 seats, Labour will take 36 and Fianna Fáil will get 25, including outgoing Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk. Sinn Féin looks set to take 12, Independents will win 13, the United Left Alliance will take four and the Green Party will lose all six of their seats. The turnout was 68.8 per cent.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who was elected on the first count in Mayo, said the people of Ireland had given his party a “massive endorsement” to form the next government. In an interview with RTÉ tonight, Mr Kenny said his party would be in government but it was too early to tell if it would be in power alone or in coalition with Labour. He said his priority would be to rebuild Ireland's economy.

“This little country will be seen to be the best in the world by 2016, to do business, raise a family and to grow old with dignity and respect," he said.

MORE...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0226/breaking8.html

[rpannier]

10. Not sure why anyone would vote for the FF

Their mismanagement of the Irish economy is the true definition of epic fail.
The coalition will be lead by a more conservative party.
Given the disastrous way the FF ruled they it makes sense for people to look elsewhere.

[provis99]

11. unfortunately all parties support austerity measures.

It's not a real election if there's no difference between the parties.