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Ireland's PM says his party to move forward to form gov't

Xinhua, March 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny said on Wednesday that his Fine Gael (United Ireland Party), as the biggest party in parliament after last Friday's general elections, would move forward to provide a government."

At an exhibition for the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin, Kenny admitted it had been a "bruising election" for his party. But he said he would try to form a government "in the interests of people" and would "talk to all parties," including Fianna Fail (Republican Party).

He believed no one wanted a second election.

On Wednesday afternoon, count staff were into the fifth day of counting votes. Just two seats remain to be filled in the four-seater Longford Westmeath constituency, the last to declare in the general election.

So far, 156 out of 158 seats have been filled, 39 out of 40 constituencies complete and there was a 65 percent national turnout.

Described as one of the most unpredictable general elections in recent times, there have been significant losses for Fine Gael and its coalition partner Labor, and big gains for Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, independents, and smaller parties.

Despite falling from 66 seats to 49, Fine Gael still retained the largest party status in the 32nd Dail Eireann, lower house of Irish parliament. However, the leading party was only five seats ahead of its main rival Fianna Fail.

Gerry Adams' Sinn Fein made a historic breakthrough with a win of 23 seats. The party is now the third largest in terms of members of parliament in Ireland.

Fine Gael became the largest party in Ireland after the 2011 general election. It then formed a coalition government with the Labor Party, with the Fine Gael party leader Enda Kenny serving as prime minister. Kenny has led the party since 2002.

Labor had 33 seats when the 31th Dail Eireann dissolved early last month, but took a serious thumping in Friday's poll, only securing six seats so far.

Fine Gael and Labor fell far short of the required 80 seats for a coalition government for the next five years.

More than 3.2 million people are eligible to vote in 40 constituencies being contested by 552 candidates, a slight drop on the number that contested the 2011 general election.

On Feb. 3, Irish President Michael D Higgins signed a proclamation to dissolve the 31st Dail Eireann at the request of Prime Minister Kenny. The incoming Dail Eireann will sit on March 10. Endit