Ireland's parliament failed for a third time to elect a prime minister Thursday, prolonging the apparently insoluble stalemate that has left the country without a new government for almost seven weeks.
Neither of the leaders of the two main parties managed to attract enough support to win the contest.
Fine Gael's Enda Kenny, the outgoing prime minister, received 52 votes with 77 against, only one more than at last week's failed attempt, while Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin took 43 votes (the same number as previously), with 91 against.
The outgoing coalition has remained in place in a caretaker capacity since an inconclusive election on February 26, in which neither party attracted enough votes to form a government without at least some form of support from the other.
Although both parties are considered centre-right, their relationship is riven by mistrust and historical enmities.
Both are searching for the 80 seats needed to form the slimmest of majority governments in the 158-seat chamber, something only possible by forming a coalition pact with each other or by winning the support of a disparate group of independents and smaller parties.
After last week's second vote to elect a prime minister, or Taoiseach, Fianna Fail rejected the offer of becoming a full partner in a coalition.
In a statement issued only hours before the vote, a bloc of independents said it would not be voting for either candidate, effectively scuppering any prospect that a new prime minister would be elected.
"We require that they (main parties) agree to a minimum of three budgets in order to give stability to the Irish people," the statement said.
- Looming problems -
Sinn Fein, the third biggest party with 23 seats, says it would be willing to talk to either of the bigger parties but so far there had been no contact.
Political analysts highlighted the serious ideological differences between Sinn Fein and the main parties. The left-leaning party also has an avowed policy of non-participation in any government as a minority partner.
Following Thursday's vote, Kenny invited Martin for further exploratory talks in a bid to form a partnership government based on "parity of esteem", and to tackle looming problems.
"There are clearly a number of major challenges facing the country internally and from abroad," he said, adding he was particularly concerned about Britain's referendum on its EU membership in ten weeks' time.
"This decision may have far-reaching consequences for Europe, for Ireland, for Northern Ireland in particular," he said.
Martin replied that the electorate had not given his party a mandate to go into coalition with Fine Gael and reiterated his intention to form a minority government.
"Fianna Fail believes that a minority government is the only credible and legitimate outcome," he said.
The house will meet again next Wednesday.
Ireland’s parliament failed for a third time to elect a prime minister Thursday, prolonging the apparently insoluble stalemate that has left the country without a new government for almost seven weeks.
Neither of the leaders of the two main parties managed to attract enough support to win the contest.
Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny, the outgoing prime minister, received 52 votes with 77 against, only one more than at last week’s failed attempt, while Fianna Fail’s Micheal Martin took 43 votes (the same number as previously), with 91 against.
The outgoing coalition has remained in place in a caretaker capacity since an inconclusive election on February 26, in which neither party attracted enough votes to form a government without at least some form of support from the other.
Although both parties are considered centre-right, their relationship is riven by mistrust and historical enmities.
Both are searching for the 80 seats needed to form the slimmest of majority governments in the 158-seat chamber, something only possible by forming a coalition pact with each other or by winning the support of a disparate group of independents and smaller parties.
After last week’s second vote to elect a prime minister, or Taoiseach, Fianna Fail rejected the offer of becoming a full partner in a coalition.
In a statement issued only hours before the vote, a bloc of independents said it would not be voting for either candidate, effectively scuppering any prospect that a new prime minister would be elected.
“We require that they (main parties) agree to a minimum of three budgets in order to give stability to the Irish people,” the statement said.
– Looming problems –
Sinn Fein, the third biggest party with 23 seats, says it would be willing to talk to either of the bigger parties but so far there had been no contact.
Political analysts highlighted the serious ideological differences between Sinn Fein and the main parties. The left-leaning party also has an avowed policy of non-participation in any government as a minority partner.
Following Thursday’s vote, Kenny invited Martin for further exploratory talks in a bid to form a partnership government based on “parity of esteem”, and to tackle looming problems.
“There are clearly a number of major challenges facing the country internally and from abroad,” he said, adding he was particularly concerned about Britain’s referendum on its EU membership in ten weeks’ time.
“This decision may have far-reaching consequences for Europe, for Ireland, for Northern Ireland in particular,” he said.
Martin replied that the electorate had not given his party a mandate to go into coalition with Fine Gael and reiterated his intention to form a minority government.
“Fianna Fail believes that a minority government is the only credible and legitimate outcome,” he said.
The house will meet again next Wednesday.
