DUBLIN — On Thursday, Irish legislators made the decision to reappoint seasoned politician Micheál Martin as prime minister for a second term, leading a coalition government.
The Dáil, the lower house of parliament, held a vote in which Martin received 95 votes in favor and 76 against his confirmation as taoiseach, the term used for prime minister in Ireland.
During his acceptance speech, Martin expressed, “It is a profound honor to be nominated to serve as head of the government in a free, democratic and diverse republic.”
He was officially sworn in by President Michael D. Higgins at the presidential residence in Dublin, and he is anticipated to announce his Cabinet in the near future.
Initially scheduled for Wednesday, the vote was postponed due to disputes regarding parliamentary procedures, resulting in a chaotic atmosphere in the chamber. This moment comes nearly two months after an election where Martin’s Fianna Fáil party secured the highest number of seats but fell short of a majority to govern independently.
Following extensive negotiations, the historically dominant center-right parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, reached an agreement to form a coalition, supported by a number of independent lawmakers.
Under the coalition arrangement, Martin, who is 64 years old, will serve as taoiseach for three years, with Simon Harris of Fine Gael, the previous taoiseach, stepping in as his deputy. After this three-year period, the two will exchange roles to complete the remaining term of five years.
In the election held on November 29, voters in Ireland diverged from a global trend in 2024 that saw many incumbent governments lose power.
Fianna Fáil triumphed with 48 of the 174 seats in the legislature, while Fine Gael captured 38 seats. They secured the necessary support for governance from the predominantly conservative Regional Independent Group, who will be allocated junior ministerial appointments.
Despite sharing similar center-right policies, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have a longstanding rivalry that originates from their opposing positions during Ireland’s civil war in the 1920s. The two parties had initially formed an alliance following the 2020 election that resulted in a near-tie.
