Irish General Election (February 8th 2020)

[CumbrianLefty]

What is the difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael? They’re both listed as pro-European conservative parties, which is obviously an over-simplification.

John O'Farrell related - in his absolutely classic book Things Can Only Get Better - asking an old Irish bloke this very question back in the 1990s. The reply - "its the difference between s*** and s***e"

[CumbrianLefty]

We couldn't be about to see yet another "centrist boyfriend" come to grief, shurely?

[CumbrianLefty]

So Epic Fáil is back huh? What a time to be alive.

Yes, this does rather dilute the joy at the prospect of FG getting what they deserve.

[CumbrianLefty]

Why did FG want an early election that they are likely to lose?

They were polling better then?

[CumbrianLefty]

Is it that unfair to say that Irish Labour is basically the Observer (note - NOT the Guardian) in party political form? Whatever the label, I for one would find that about as appetising as a cup of cold sick.

[CumbrianLefty]

Intresting that the perception is that SF is a nationalist populist party.  I thought SF viewed itself as a pro EU left leaning party with some populist atributes.

I suppose the obvious (though also basically correct) answer is that, these days at least, it is a bit of both.

[CumbrianLefty]

That poll also has Irish Labour in Connaught/Ulster at........*one* per cent.

[CumbrianLefty]

Well, one not insignificant difference is that the IRA no longer exist as even an inactive armed organisation. Takes like this aren't really helpful as they ignore the divergences in different places.

[CumbrianLefty]

If it transpires, almost the ultimate banter result

[CumbrianLefty]

If they are not underperforming the polls this time, that is itself interesting.

[CumbrianLefty]

Well, sort of left.

As for Irish Labour - is humane euthanasia the kindest solution?

[CumbrianLefty]

Can someone explain the difference between Laour and the Social Democrats?

Social Democrats position themselves as anti-austerity?

[CumbrianLefty]

It looks like eventually its gonna be a SF+FF + Labour (or Greens or SocDems) government

"It will go lower".

[CumbrianLefty]

Irish Labour are going to have a leadership contest - if anybody still cares.

[CumbrianLefty]

It kinda seems like there's some buyer's remorse.

What is this a reference to?

[CumbrianLefty]

Doesn't make too much difference. FF are refusing to work with SF, so whilst McDonald is talking to the indies and the smaller parties, the numbers probably aren't there.

On the flipside, FG have now agreed to meet with FF, but they still seem committed to doing the absolute minimum that they can get away with in terms of engagement.

I think ff will come around to working with sf.

Eventually, but maybe not before another election?

[CumbrianLefty]

It kinda seems like there's some buyer's remorse.

I guess I was wrong. A poll shows that SF would easily win a new election:

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ireland-politics/sinn-fein-would-easily-win-repeat-irish-election-poll-idUKKBN20N12G

Perhaps FF/FG should try bringing up the IRA again?

Is this sarcasm?

[CumbrianLefty]

Soz, but its genuinely hard to tell sometimes

[CumbrianLefty]

Can't see that going wrong at all.

[CumbrianLefty]

Having committed electoral suicide once being a junior coalition partner, the Irish Greens are happy to do it *again*? Impressive commitment to the greater good, if nothing else