Opinion
11 Feb 20

Ireland Reacts As The General Election 2020 Count Comes To An End

The Message Election 2020

A desire for change has been the most dominant feature of the 2020 General Election.

The final results of the 33rd Dáil emerged last night, concluding a historic general election.

Since counting began on Sunday, February 9, Irish voters' dramatic move away from the state’s long-established two-party system has made headlines around the world. Winning 24.5% of the first-preference votes, Sinn Féin are the most popular party to emerge from the election, securing them what party leader Mary Lou McDonald has described as a "very substantial mandate".

Fianna Fáil, however, will enter the 33rd Dáil as the largest party. While Fianna Fáíl and Sinn Féin both won 37 seats in the election, outgoing Ceann Comhairle was automatically returned to the Dáil, granting Fianna Fáil a head-start of one seat.

While McDonald has expressed a preference for a coalition government that involves neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd-Barrett has today questioned whether it will be possible to form a left government.

As such, the coming days and week will prove eventful, as the parties sit down to discuss the future shape of the 33rd Dáil.

In the wake of the conclusion of the count, the country has taken to social media to share its reactions to the dramatic general election – as well as all the associated controversies:

Barely reported fact of #GE2020 At 20.9% Fine Gael finished THIRD on first prefs. FG has NEVER BEFORE finished 3rd in its 87 yrs. It's FG's worst share since 1948 when it got 19.8% and its leader resigned (over Cwar record). In 2002, with 22.5%, Noonan resigned on election night.

— Oliver Callan (@olivercallan) February 10, 2020

How hard can it be to *not* sing “up the Ra” when there is a massive media spotlight on your party? 🤔 #GE2020

— Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) February 10, 2020

In fairness to Danny he doesn't actally live on this planet so he doesn't represent it. #GE2020 https://t.co/Q01Lr3loFq

— Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (@lukeming) February 10, 2020

What I would love to hear is someone from FG publicly showing humility and self-critique, admitting policy error and mistakes, and acknowledging they completely misread public opinion both before and during this election.

- Not a chance. #CBlive #GE2020

— Aidan Regan (@Aidan_Regan) February 10, 2020