Ruling parties will likely form next Irish government

Significance FG’s partner in the outgoing coalition, Fianna Fail (FF), is polling relatively well, a few percentage points behind FG. Support for the left-wing opposition Sinn Fein (SF) has halved, seemingly due to internal party crises and its position on immigration. Impacts If SF performs poorly in the election, leader Mary Lou McDonald’s position will come under threat. Whatever the election outcome, the next government will probably adopt a tougher stance on immigration. The Irish economy is particularly vulnerable to US President-elect Donald Trump’s protectionist economic agenda.