Irish Examiner View: Coming election a volcanic test for US democracy

Echoes of Cumann na nGaedheal-Fianna Fáil rivalry to Trump-Biden face-off in November. Will he accept the result as easily?

A passerby stops to take a selfie with foam sculpture depictions of US president Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Picture: Joe Cavaretta/AP

After our February 1932 general election, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party came together to form a minority government. When the 153 members of the seventh Dáil assembled at Leinster House, on March 9, 1932, Cumann na nGaedheal, under WT Cosgrave, had to give way to its bitter Civil War enemies, Fianna Fáil, under Éamon de Valera. 

It may have been a bittersweet moment for Cumann na nGaedheal; it was in power since 1922 but recognised that a real, democratic mandate had been fairly expressed and responded accordingly.