(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The main opposition party is holding on to the top spot in Ireland, according to a poll by Red C. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for Fine Gael (FG) in the next general election, unchanged since January.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The main opposition party is holding on to the top spot in Ireland, according to a poll by Red C. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for Fine Gael (FG) in the next general election, unchanged since January.
The governing Fianna Fáil (FF) remains in second place with 27 per cent, followed by the Labour Party (Lab.) with 17 per cent, Sinn Fein (SF) with nine 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.
On Mar. 4, Cowen talked about an upcoming cabinet reshuffle, saying, "Now, the priorities are the reorganization of the way we do business at government and departmental levels to align ourselves with economic imperatives, the further reform of our public services and the implementation of our innovation agenda."
Polling Data
If there were a general election tomorrow, to which party would you give your first preference vote?
|
Feb. 2010
|
Jan. 2010
|
Nov. 2009
|
|
|
Fine Gael (FG)
|
34%
|
34%
|
36%
|
|
Fianna Fáil (FF)
|
27%
|
27%
|
23%
|
|
Labour Party (Lab.)
|
17%
|
17%
|
17%
|
|
Sinn Fein (SF)
|
9%
|
8%
|
9%
|
|
Green Party (GP)
|
5%
|
5%
|
5%
|
Source: Red C
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,007 Irish adults, conducted from Feb. 22 to Feb. 24, 2010. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
