Proportional Representation

[asl]

Apparently, the Irish election has been a monumental success for Sinn Fein - yet more than 75% of the voters *didn't* vote for them, and now the Dáil is going to be as paralysed as the UK parliament has been in recent years.

The make-up of the new government is going to be very interesting...

[Shade]

I heard on ITV news last night that another election may be necessary, in which case Sinn Fein will almost certainly put more candidates in as they didn't realise they were going to be as successful as they were. The worrying part is, from our UK perspective, that despite a lot of new voters seemingly voting for them because of their housing and financial policies, there are still those in the party that want a united Ireland, as shown by the one guy celebrating his victory with "up the 'RA" in his speech - which the leader of Sinn Fein said wasn't representative of the party.

[Ihearye]

The sad truth is that it is very representative of the party. No matter how much lipstick they try to apply. Speaking to a few of my more nationalist chums form NI at the rugby last week. Their opinion was that the elections in the south would have pushed a United Ireland further down the road. The argument being that if they thought they would be governed by FF or FG then it would be worth considering. However, now that SF are on the scene in the south, they would have no interest. They feel disenfranchised enough in NI due to SDLP and SF being so closely aligned in so many areas (also the Alliance party to a lesser extent). They would never vote unionist, so are left with nobody to vote for

[Ihearye]

I heard on ITV news last night that another election may be necessary, in which case Sinn Fein will almost certainly put more candidates in as they didn't realise they were going to be as successful as they were. The worrying part is, from our UK perspective, that despite a lot of new voters seemingly voting for them because of their housing and financial policies, there are still those in the party that want a united Ireland, as shown by the one guy celebrating his victory with "up the 'RA" in his speech - which the leader of Sinn Fein said wasn't representative of the party.

As you will see from yesterday's report from RTE https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/02 ... sinn-fein/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Army Council of the provisional IRA, control Sinn Fien, still retain an amount of arms, gather intelligence, fund raise (through various illegal means). The view of teh Garda in the South as well as the PSNI in the North.

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Of course, in the U.K. Parliament the DUP have the most seats despite Republican parties having a greater share of the national vote.

[Ihearye]

Of course, in the U.K. Parliament the DUP have the most seats despite Republican parties having a greater share of the national vote.

As always the gift that keeps ongiving. Incorrect

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Of course, in the U.K. Parliament the DUP have the most seats despite Republican parties having a greater share of the national vote.

As always the gift that keeps ongiving. Incorrect

Oh I stand corrected. As well as having more share of the vote Republicans actually won more seats this time as well, taking 9 compared to DUP 8 after DUP lost two seats compared to 2017.

[Ihearye]

Usually helps to get your facts right especially when they disprove what you were educating us on

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Usually helps to get your facts right especially when they disprove what you were educating us on

Indeed. Forgot that the Unionists did even worse in 2019 than 2017. Apologies.