Irish Elections - Referendum, Presidential, and General (polling or byelections)

[Leftbehind]

RTE One will be broadcasting special election programmes at 1100 (0600 EDT), 1500 (1000 EDT) and 2030 (1530 EDT) with RTE News broadcasting the whole thing from start to finish on Friday as well. BBC Parliament do not appear to be simulcasting anything (but that might change as today goes on) so if you do not want to be tied to a computer and you live in the UK you can either a) have a aerial that points towards the Irish Republic or b) tune to channel 0160 on Sky for RTE Radio 1, 0164 for RTE 2FM or if you fancy your Gaelic skills 0166 for RTE R na G

Argh. Perennially disappointed with the Beeb's (non-existent) election coverage.

[Leftbehind]

Higgins was the best you could hope for really, but I can't help feel disappointed the Socialists couldn't make it into 2nd place in Dublin West (with all of its following consequences re reallocated votes) given the result.

[Leftbehind]

[...]Labour, despite their *imaginative* election leaflets, heading for a clobbering.

That line's nearly always laughable when you're propping up the Right. The Lib Dems tried to use it before they got roundly massacred in the locals and dropped it. In a Lib-Lab situation itd be a much better strategy.

[Leftbehind]

http://directdemocracyireland.ie/

sh**te result.

[Leftbehind]

So the Greens and now Labour have sacrificed themselves for the return of FF/FG politics. How hard is it not to throw your lot in with a party the bulk of your supporters despise (especially after being propelled to the main opposition for the first time)? Might as well just rename themselves to the Saboteurs Party.

Although saying that, comparing the figures to the 2011 g/e it might not be as hopeless as I first thought:

27% FG (-9)
23% FF (+5)
15% SF (+5)
7% Lab (-13)
2% Grn (n/c)
25% Ind/Oth (+10)