Irish politicians face messy talks over government formation as exit poll shows parliamentary election ended in dead heat between three biggest parties
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald awaits the announcement of voting results in a counting centre, during Ireland's national election, in Dublin, Ireland, February 9, 2020.
That put it narrowly ahead of the party of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and fellow centre-right rival Fianna Fail. Varadkar, meanwhile, said a coalition with Sinn Fein is not an option. "This is certainly an election that is historic... this is changing the shape and the mould of Irish politics. This is just the beginning," McDonald told a media scrum after arriving at her election count to a huge ovation from party supporters.
"Our policies and our principles have not changed overnight, in 24 hours, but what is important is that the country comes first," he told reporters in Cork. He later added that Fianna Fail's issues with Sinn Fein's history had not gone away. Early tallies showed McDonald had more than twice the number of votes needed for election in her constituency – and the Sinn Fein candidate was well ahead of Varadkar in his four-seat Dublin West constituency.
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