Fianna Fáil claims Fine Gael’s campaign of ‘fear and smear’ has backfired

Fianna Fáil has said that Fine Gael “threatened” the Irish people to vote for the coalition and expected a “coronation” but that their election campaign has backfired on them.

Delivering their last press conference of the 2016 general election, the party’s director of elections Billy Kelleher also claimed the outgoing coalition’s campaign of “fear and smear” had failed.

The comments come after the main opposition party has seen somewhat of a comeback in recent days, with support slowly returning to it following its disastrous election collapse in 2011.

Mr Kelleher though, despite having said in November that anything more than 35 seats would represent a major achievement, refused to be drawn on what the party’s hopes are on count day.

Mr Kelleher also praised party leader Micheál Martin at the press conference yesterday, highlighting his good performance during the leaders’ television debates in recent weeks.

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However, the Cork North Central TD again reiterated that his party would not be going into government with Enda Kenny’s party.

“We would not be going into government with Fine Gael.”

Mr Kelleher also repeated that his party would not share power with Sinn Féin.

He claimed that the government parties had changed their message and their campaign had been about spin, while his party had stayed on message and been consistent.

“There was a certain arrogance from this government about its re-election. 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 to the Hogan stand and pick up the cup, but they forgot that they have to actually play a match.”

The Cork TD also claimed that the government had forgotten that there were many people out there who had not experienced the recovery, despite Fine Gael’s message to ‘keep the recovery going’.

He said that Fine Gael had taken the electorate for granted and treated the election “as a coronation”. They had “threatened” people that no other government could be formed, added the Fianna Fáil health spokesman.

Mr Kelleher’s comments come as predictions still say there may be a hung Dáil after the constituency counts are finished and that Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil will not have sufficient numbers to make up a government without each other and other parties.

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Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin last night called on voters to “make a change” when they go to the ballot boxes today. He said that priorities for the party included creating jobs, cutting family costs, tackling crime, and securing home ownership for people.

“We have a great country and great people and Ireland needs a government that works and listens to people.

“We do not need another government of spin and broken promises. Fine Gael and Labour are out of touch and attacking anyone who points out any problems. They have ignored concerns on housing, homelessness, health, and crime. We have had five unfair budgets in a row and Fine Gael’s rallying call is ‘Keep this going’.