DUBLIN, Nov 24 - As Ireland approaches its general election on Friday, recent polling indicates a narrowing lead for Prime Minister Simon Harris' Fine Gael party. The party currently holds 22% support, a decline from 26% three weeks ago, according to a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll conducted on Thursday and Friday. Fine Gael's coalition partner, Fianna Fail, remains at 20%, while opposition party Sinn Fein has gained two points, also reaching 20%.
The shift in support for Fine Gael follows a series of campaign missteps, suggesting that the initial bounce from Harris' appointment as party leader in April is now fading. Sinn Fein, which previously led in polls earlier this year, aims to secure a significant lead over both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to prevent their potential re-election, as both parties have committed to governing together again.
In related news, Taoiseach Simon Harris has announced measures to protect the Irish economy from potential economic shocks anticipated from the incoming Donald Trump administration in the United States. In an interview with Sky News, Harris expressed concern over Trump's stance on trade and tariffs, stating, 'I think President Trump does mean what he says in terms of his position in relation to trade and tariffs.' He emphasized the importance of preparing Ireland and collaborating with European Union counterparts to address these changes.