FG and Labour’s master stroke will only sow the seeds for FF comeback
Fine Gael and Labour leaders finalised their teams to negotiate a five-year programme for government. One likely government formation was a no brainer. FG’s sixty-something and Labour’s thirty-something TDs provide a clear Dáil majority. Neither party ever had a realistic hope of achieving 83 seats on their own. Both parties excluded possibility of government with Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin.
This inevitable outcome was obvious since the 2009 local and European elections. Gradual further erosion of FF support only served to increase the FG/Lab majority. The amazing feature of the campaign was both parties succeeded in pulling off an incredible stroke. The blatant requirement of the electorate was to obtain some advance detail on their joint approach to policy. Chief strategists realised any compromise of individual postures would only weaken electoral appeal. Labour had to maintain left-wing credentials to prevent haemorrhaging support to Sinn Féin and far-left socialists. Regular references bracketing FG and FF together maintained clear blue water between them and blueshirts.