On November 30, 2024, Ireland commenced vote counting for its general elections, with an exit poll indicating a competitive race among the three primary parties. Sinn Fein, the left-wing opposition party advocating for Irish unity, reportedly holds a slight advantage with 21.1% of the vote.
The two centre-right parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, coalition partners in the current government, garnered 21% and 19.5% respectively, according to the Ipsos B&A exit poll. The final results may take several days to determine due to the country's proportional representation system, which involves redistributing votes from eliminated candidates.
Political analyst Eoin O'Malley noted that if the exit poll is accurate, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail could retain power, but would need to collaborate with smaller parties to achieve an 88-seat majority. Sinn Fein's President, Mary Lou McDonald, expressed optimism about her party's chances to bring about governmental change.
The election campaign focused heavily on pressing issues such as housing and the cost of living, as well as immigration. Both centre-right parties emphasized their pro-business and pro-European Union positions, arguing that their return to power would provide stability amid global uncertainties.
Concerns about the Irish economy have been heightened by potential tariffs from the incoming U.S. administration, which could impact foreign direct investment from American tech and pharmaceutical companies. In the previous general election in 2020, Sinn Fein won the popular vote but struggled to form a coalition.
Despite a decrease in support over the past year due to its progressive stance on social issues, Sinn Fein has refocused its campaign on housing policy, positioning itself as the primary alternative to the long-dominant Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.