There are a number of political parties in the Republic of Ireland, and coalition governments are common. The state is unusual as a developed nation in that politics is not primarily characterised by the left-right political divide. This is because the two largest political parties do not identify themselves first and foremost as either centre-right or centre-left parties. Rather, both parties arose from the great split that occurred in Irish politics at the time of the 1922-1923 Civil War, that followed the foundation of the state. Both are descended from factions of the original Sinn Féin party: Fine Gael from the faction that supported the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty and Fianna Fáil from the anti-treaty faction. This enduring characteristic of the Irish party system is sometimes pejoratively referred to as "Civil War politics".
While historically Fine Gael has often been viewed as a broadly centre-right party, as the party of farmers and businessmen, such a characterisation is overly simplistic. For a period in the 1960s, for example, with the publication of the famous Just Society document, Fine Gael was identified with the values of social democracy. It is also the case that every past Fine Gael government has involved a coalition with the Labour Party. Fianna Fáil, on the other hand, have at times been associated with the centre-left, but today have right-wing economic policies and have entered several coalitions with the economically right-wing Progressive Democrats.
The centre-left in the Republic's politics is represented by the Labour Party which is the state's third largest political party and has, in the past, participated in coalition governments with each of the two largest parties. Smaller parties of the left are the modern Sinn Féin party, the Green Party and the Socialist Party. The right is represented by the Progressive Democrats (PDs) who, while liberal on economic policy, are left-wing on social matters.
As well as a number of parties Dáil Éireann (the lower house of parliament) is also often host to independent TDs (MPs) who play an important role in Irish politics and are sometimes called upon to prop up minority governments, or governments with slim majorities. They usually elected on left-wing platforms or on local issues alone.
Parties represented in Dáil Éireann
Major
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Fianna Fáil: Founded in 1926 by Eamon de Valera. The party first came to power in 1932 and since then has remained the largest party in the Dáil. Fianna Fáil has been in power for almost fifty years of its eighty year existence.
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Fine Gael: Founded in 1933 following the merger of Cumann na nGaedheal, the Centre Party and the Blueshirts (National Gaurd). Since it was founded Fine Gael has remained the second largest party in the Dáil. Cumann na nGaedhael formed the first government of the 1922-1937 Irish Free State. Since then Fine Gael has formed coalition governments, mostly with Labour.
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Labour Party: Founded in 1912 by James Connolly as a trade union movement. Until 1927 the party was the main opposition party in the Dáil. The Labour Party has participated in a number of coalition governments, mostly with Fine Gael. It was in coalition with Fianna Fáil from 1992 to 1994.
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Progressive Democrats: Currently the fourth largest party in the Dáil. The PDs are right-wing on economic matters but often liberal on social policy. Many members were originally dissaffected members of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats have jointly formed a number of coalition governments since the late eighties. The party was founded in December 1985 by two ex-Fianna Fáil TDs - Desmond O'Malley and Mary Harney. O'Malley became president and leader. The party won fourteen seats in the 1987 general election, thus becoming the third largest party in the Dáil. In 1989 the party entered into coalition government with Fianna Fáil, O'Malley becoming Minister for Industry and Commerce. Since 1997 the party has been in power in coalition with Fianna Fáil. Its leader, Mary Harney, is the current Tánaiste (deputy prime minister).
Others
Parties without Dáil representation
Defunct political parties
See also
External links
Last updated: 09-12-2005 02:39:13
