Ireland’s general election shows a remarkable rejection of populist extremism
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. Image courtesy of Sinn Féin via Wikimedia Commons © 2020.
The recent Irish general election saw 159 seats up for grabs in the lower house of the national legislature, known as the Dáil Éireann. The Single Transferable Vote (STV) system produced a more proportional result and ensured that a plurality of parties was represented. In the end, there was a three-way split between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gale and Sinn Féin, who won 38, 35 and 37 seats respectively. A multitude of smaller parties and independent candidates won the remainder.
Of the three main parties, left-wing republicans Sinn Féin were by far the biggest winners, gaining 15 seats, while governing centre-right Fine Gael lost 12, pushing them from first place into third. Despite these monumental shifts, no one has anywhere close to the 80 seats required for a majority, and it is unclear who will form the next government.
Sinn Féin’s sudden rise comes as something of a shock to the country that has been governed by the same two parties since its independence, usually in a collation or minority government. Many still remember Sinn Féin as the political wing of the Provisional IRA. This image problem was aggravated by the party’s former leader Gerry Adams, whom many believe was an IRA member. However, their new female leader Mary Lou McDonald represents a shift towards a more moderate position away from a sectarian and populist past. This shift, along with a renewed focus on core left-wing social issues, has been particularly resonant amongst progressive younger voters who do not remember the violence of the Troubles.
Mary Lou McDonald greets voters. Image courtesy of Sinn Féin via Wikimedia Commons © 2020.
The omnipresent spectres of Brexit and Irish unification were surprisingly (and some might say refreshingly) absent from the campaign. However, it was the absence of far-right populism from Irish politics that sets it apart from the rest of Europe. Anti-immigrant parties have completely failed to gain traction, and instead of moving to the extremes, the Irish population seems to be becoming more centrist and liberal. Referenda in 2015 and 2018 legalised same-sex marriage and abortion, which is astonishing given that over 78% of the population are Roman Catholics.
Meanwhile, the rest of Europe is still reeling from the wave of far-right populist uprisings that have swept the continent in recent years. The likes of Marine Le Pen, Viktor Orbán and Matteo Salvini have used fears over immigration and EU integration to grab a significant percentage of the vote, as well as international headlines. Ireland has no such populist figurehead, or at least none that have gained the same level of notoriety and popularity.
But perhaps the starkest contrast is between the Irish and their British neighbours. Ireland is relatively united in its EU membership and immigration is a non-issue. This election shows parties increasing their support by moving away from extremism. Compare this to the UK, which has been divided by Brexit for the best part of four years. Immigration (until very recently) was an extremely important issue, especially amongst working-class voters. Both Labour and the Conservatives have embraced the extreme wings of their respective parties.
Why is Ireland seemingly immune to the populist surge? Some have pointed to the stability of the Irish economy. The country was hit hard by the great recession and subsequent eurozone crisis but has since made a speedy recovery and has an impressive growth rate of just under five per cent, four times the European average. This performance is reminiscent of the rapid growth seen during the famous ‘Celtic Tiger’ period from the mid 1990s to the mid 2000s.
However, only looking at national economic performance misses the point. It’s just as important, maybe even more important, that people feel the benefits of a healthy economy in their everyday lives. Being told that the economy is growing is not enough if the benefits are going to a tiny minority of elites at the top. This is precisely the issue across so much of the Western world. For example, in the US real wages have been pretty much stagnant since the late 1970s despite huge national growth.
In Ireland, not only is the economy growing, but employment and real wages are also rising at record levels. Obviously, the country still has its fair share of tricky issues which were perhaps the reason the incumbent government lost so many seats. But when one looks at the yellow vest riots in France, far-right rallies in Poland or Britain’s Brexit strife things seem comparatively calm on the Emerald Isle.
Now that the election is over the politicking and wrangling is no doubt in full swing and with any luck a new government will be in place within a few weeks. The significance of this election both for Ireland and the rest of Europe cannot be overstated. European leaders should pay close attention as they seek to navigate the current political turbulence: Ireland may just hold the key to stability.
