Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have been inundated with pleas for a general election to be scheduled for October, following their superior local and European election results and the unimpressive performance of Sinn Féin. Strong advocates within Fine Gael are vying for the general election to take place between the 18th and 25th of October, eager to exploit the positive outcome of the local and European elections.
High-ranking members of Fianna Fáil, on the other hand, are enthusiastic about an election date prior to October’s close, citing that the daylight saving time change falls after, thereby providing more light during the evenings for campaigning purposes.
Charlie Flanagan, an ex-minister for justice from Fine Gael, has foreseen an impending Autumn election following a boost in party morale. As a representative of Laois-Offaly, he insists that the election verdict was an explicit affirmation of the central parties.
Supporting the forecasted Fall election, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are reportedly making plans to shorten their August break time. One Fine Gael minister currently in office has voiced that the election ought to be conducted sooner rather than later, expressing swift action to ensure their party’s readiness.
Following the conclusion of the local and European elections, the practice of selecting candidates for Dáil will escalate in the weeks to come, irrespective of the election’s final time frame, whether it be Autumn or the following spring.
The European elections’ outcome necessitates byelections in Dublin Bay North, Laois-Offaly, Carlow-Kilkenny, and Clare since four current TDs were elected MEPs, unless a general election is conducted first. There might be a need for a fifth byelection if an acting TD is chosen to become Ireland’s forthcoming European commissioner; Finance Minister Michael McGrath is considered a probable candidate.
The six months’ interim from July 16th in which the Government can call for byelections, ensuing from when MEPs embark on their roles in the European Parliament, extends as far as mid-January next year. Thus, the coalition leaders have until then to choose between calling the byelections or requesting a nationwide vote.
A member of the Fianna Fáil political party, functioning as a Minister, expressed that the situation is unpredictable following the upcoming budget, set to be announced in October. The the Minister questioned the necessity of conducting byelections, and suggested holding the general election prior to daylight savings, specifying October 25th as an ideal date.
A source from the Fine Gael party labelled byelections as an expensive and illogical exercise. The source further emphasised that it’s evident we are in the election period and the uncertainty decreases with the onset of autumn.
Contrarily, unanimity on advancing the general election to this year wasn’t achieved amongst the opinion givers, with a Fianna Fáil Minister advocating that a five-year term should be completed.
Additional benefits of completing the term as per a separate source, include budget measures such as tax reductions or welfare improvements initiating before the day of voting, and the potential increase of housing construction, demonstrating progress on the current housing crisis by the Coalition parties.
Simon Harris, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and the leader of the Green Party, Eamon Ryan, have all stressed the government’s intention to finish its full term into the following year. This position was reiterated by both Harris and Martin at the closing of the Midlands-North-West European election count in Castlebar. Independent candidates Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Ciarán Mullooly, along with Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh, and Barry Cowen of Fianna Fáil secured the five available seats.
The Taoiseach stated that byelections were not a concern to him and his opinion on the election schedule remains the same.