Ireland hits impasse after Sinn Fein election win

by Jeffry Babb The Irish elections of February 2020 represented a political revolution. The usual balancing act in Irish politics between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael has been disrupted, with republican party Sinn Fein polling the most first-preference votes. Minor parties, including the left-leaning Social Democrats and the Greens, also polled well. By June 2020, no government had been formed as coalition negotiations dragged on. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar remains in office as head of a caretaker administration. Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have said that they will not form a coalition government with Sinn Fein. The traditional…