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Irish parliament fails to elect prime minister

Xinhua, March 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

The 32nd Dail Eireann, lower house of Irish parliament, failed to elect a Taoiseach (prime minister) during its first meeting after the Feb. 26 general election.

During the meeting, Fine Gael (United Ireland Party) leader Enda Kenny, Fianna Fail (Republican Party) leader Micheal Martin, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and Richard Boyd Barrett from the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit (AAA-PBP) were all nominated by their respective parties for the position of Taoiseach.

The voting process began with deputies voting for Kenny, who received 57 votes in favor and 94 against.

Fine Gael, which has 50 seats in the 32nd Dail Eireann, is still the largest party in Irish parliament.

Martin received 43 votes in favor and 108 against. Fianna Fail has 44 seats in parliament.

Adams received 24 votes in favor, and 116 against. Sinn Fein, having 23 seats in parliament, is now the third largest in terms of members of parliament in Ireland.

Boyd Barrett received nine votes in favor and 111 votes against. AAA-PBP has six seats in parliament.

In another development, Fianna Fail TD (member of parliament) Sean O'Fearghail was chosen as the new speaker of the 32nd Dail Eireann through a secret ballot. The new speaker will replace outgoing speaker Sean Barrett.

Following the vote, Kenny said he would resign as Taoiseach as he cannot secure majority support in parliament. But he said the current government would continue to work in the best interests of the country and its people.

Kenny will travel to Washington for St Patrick's Day even if a new government isn't formed.

As head of a caretaker government, Kenny's immediate duties also include the events surrounding the centenary celebrations of 1916 Easter Rising.

Kenny will be likely asked by Irish President Michael D Higgins to remain as acting Taoiseach until another vote is held.

Kenny-led 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 Kenny serving as Taoiseach. Kenny has led the party since 2002.

Labor had 33 seats when the 31st Dail Eireann dissolved in early February and now it took a serious thumping in the general election, only securing seven seats.

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

Both independents and smaller parties made huge gains, wining 34 seats in total. Endit