Ireland’s incumbent parties look likely to hang on to power after a fractured election

Associated Press

DUBLIN (AP) — Results from Ireland’s election suggest the two dominant center-right parties look likely to form a new government. Incumbent governing parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were voters’ top choices in terms of vote share. With about two-thirds of seats declared, Fianna Fail was on course to be the biggest party in the 174-seat parliament, with Fine Gael and left-of-center opposition Sinn Fein battling for second place. No party will have enough seats to govern on its own. The most likely outcome is a coalition between Fianna Fail, led by Micheál Martin, and Fine Gael under outgoing Prime Minister Simon Harris.  Sinn Fein lacks a clear path to power because the other two parties say they won’t work with it.