(06/14/10) -

Fine Gael Still on Top in Irish Politics

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Ireland’s main opposition party remains ahead of its rivals, according to a poll by Red C. 30 per cent of respondents would support Fine Gael (FG) in the next general election.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Ireland’s main opposition party remains ahead of its rivals, according to a poll by Red C. 30 per cent of respondents would support Fine Gael (FG) in the next general election.

The governing Fianna Fáil (FF) is in second place with 24 per cent, followed by the Labour Party (Lab.) with 22 per cent, Sinn Fein (SF) with 10 per cent, and the Green Party (GP) with five per cent.

In May 2007, Irish voters renewed the House of Representatives. FF finished in first place with 41.6 per cent of the vote and 78 lawmakers, followed by FG with 27.3 per cent and 51 legislators, and Labour with 10.1 per cent and 20 representatives. In June, Bertie Ahern was ratified as prime minister, with the support of FF, six Green lawmakers, two members of the Progressive Democrats and four independents.

In the 1990s, a public inquiry was established to investigate corruption allegations related to the issuing of planning and zoning permits in Ireland. Ahern faced an investigation by the so-called Mahon Tribunal. Ahern’s involvement in the corruption scandal practically paralyzed the legislature in early 2008.

In May 2008, Ahern stepped down and FF lawmakers chose finance minister Brian Cowen to replace him as leader and prime minister. Several fellow party members had called for Ahern—who had served as head of government since June 1997—to resign in order to protect the party from the damages caused by the investigation.

The Irish government has faced criticism for its handling of the economy in recent months. On Jun. 9, two reports—one by former International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials Klaus Regling and Max Watson and another by Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan—questioned Cowen’s decisions as finance minister.

On Jun. 10, FG leader Enda Kenny revealed that his party would table a no-confidence motion against Cowen, for the "catastrophic failures of policy" that led to the current economic crisis.

Polling Data

If there were a general election tomorrow, to which party would you give your first preference vote?