Ireland ‘heading for election stalemate’ amid anger at austerity and hardship

Voting got under way in Ireland on Friday in an election likely to see hardship and austerity erode support for traditional parties. Voters began casting ballots in schools, sports clubs and church buildings transformed for the day into election centres. The first indications of results are expected as counting gets under way on Saturday morning, a process likely to continue into Sunday. Opinion polls suggest the coalition led by prime minister Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael may struggle to form a majority for a second term owing to a potential collapse in support for junior partners Labour.

The last time, I voted for them but never again. They took some money off our pension three times, then they gave us a house tax and then a water tax, how can we pay that out of the pension?

Disillusioned coalition supporter Silvia Doran, 72

Under the coalition, Ireland became the eurozone’s champion of economic growth after exiting a bailout programme brought in following a deep financial crisis. But the election got under way amid widespread anger over tax increases, poverty and cuts to services. Unlike in other eurozone countries, where opposition to austerity coalesced around insurgent parties such as Spain’s Podemos or Syriza in Greece, the vote in Ireland has splintered. Those expected to increase their numbers in Dail Eireann, the lower house of parliament, are independents not affiliated to parties, new group the Anti Austerity Alliance/People Before Profit and left-wing republican party Sinn Fein.

They thought they really only had to turn up to Croke Park, didn’t have to play on the pitch and that they could walk up the Hogan Stand and pick up the cup. But they forgot they actually had to play the match

Fianna Fáil’s director of elections Billy Kelleher pours scorn on the coalition campaign

ireland election