Who is the party behind the Irish general election?

Fine Gael, which translates to “Irish Family,” is a centre-right political party.

Its origins lie in the Irish Civil War and the pro-British/Irish Treaty party Cumann na Gaheel (Gaelic Association).

Michael Collins is a Gaelic hero, supporting the 1921 treaty that led to the partition of the island and the creation of the Irish Free State.

The party has been in power since 2011, when Ireland was in the midst of an economic crisis and an international rescue deal was in the early stages.

The country’s transition from recession to boom was overseen by Fine Gael under the leadership of former Taoist leader Enda Kenny and his successor Leo Varadkar.

The rapid recovery may have achieved high economic growth rates and near full employment, but it has also brought its own problems, including housing shortages, homelessness, high rents and congestion, particularly in Dublin.

These were dubbed “problems of success” by former finance minister Michael Noonan in 2015, and have plagued a party that has traditionally seen itself as the custodian of the economy.

The party was led by Leo Varadkar from 2017 to 2024, but he resigned citing “personal and political reasons”.

Simon Harris was confirmed as the new party leader in March.

Fianna Fail, which means “Soldier of Destiny,” was founded in 1926 by the state’s founding father, the anti-Treaty Eamond de Valera.

Once seen as centrist, he is now seen as center-right.

Historically, Fianna Fail has appealed across all social divides.

It dominated Irish politics for most of the post-World War II period.

But the party suffered a crushing defeat in 2011, as many voters criticized it for its management of the economy before and during the early stages of the crisis.

During the 2016 election, it entered into a trust and supply agreement with independent MPs to support the Fine Gael-led government.

Four years ago, Fianna Fáil won 38 seats and a coalition government was formed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.

Sinn Féin, Ireland’s republican and democratic socialist party, is the main opposition party.

The party has been led by Mary Lou McDonald since 2018, replacing longtime leader Gerry Adams.

Since then, politicians in Dublin have sought to distance the party from criticism of its historical links to IRA violence.

Her party made significant gains in 2020, topping the popular vote and winning 37 seats.

It is the largest party not only in Northern Ireland’s parliament, but also in Parliament and Westminster.

However, the party struggled in local elections in the Republic, winning 102 city council seats instead of 200.

Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael deny joining the Sinn Féin government.

The Irish Labor Party is a centre-left social democratic party founded in 1912 as part of the trade union movement and maintains organizational links with it.

In 2011 it was the second largest party in the Dáil, but in 2016 it fell to fourth place.

After serving as a junior coalition partner with Fine Gael, it suffered a crushing defeat in the general election that year. The number of seats in the Dáil decreased from 37 to 7.

Ivana Bacic has been leading the party since 2022.

The Green Party advocates environmental protection, sustainability and green politics.

Founded in 1981 as the Irish Ecology Party, it became the Green Alliance in 1983 and its current name in 1987.

The Green Party first entered the Dail in 1989.

It has participated in the Irish government twice, from 2007 to 2011 as a junior partner in a coalition with Fianna Fáil, and since June 2020 in a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. .

Eamonn Ryan, who has been party leader since 2011, resigned in June after local and European elections, and the Green Party lost both its seats in the European Parliament and saw its number of local MPs halved.

Roderick O’Gorman was appointed in July.

The Social Democratic Party was founded in 2015 by three independent TDs.

In May 2016, the party formed a technical group within the Dáil together with the Green Party.

Holly Cairns has been the party’s sole leader since 2023.

She said its priorities were to invest in public services and “lift people out of poverty”.

Social Democrats are known to make extensive use of social media sites, using TikTok and Instagram to get their messages across.

Aontú has been led by Peadar Tóibín since its founding in January 2019.

He resigned from Sinn Féin in 2018 over his anti-abortion views after opposing the party’s whip on the Health Act 2018 (Regulating Abortion).

The party is also fielding candidates in Northern Ireland.

Beyond the abortion issue, Aontu outlined positions on immigration and what the party calls “gender ideology.”

The party wants the Irish Border Agency, which has 4,000 staff, to oversee border management, applications and enforcement of regulations, and the party does not believe that women are or are adult women. It claims to be the “only” National Party party that agrees. Humans cannot become pregnant or give birth.

An alliance between People Before Profit and Solidarity, a left-wing electoral alliance that advocates for social justice, wealth redistribution, and workers’ rights.

The alliance was established following the 2016 Irish general election with the aim of giving constituents a greater voice in Dáil Eireann.

The party describes itself as anti-capitalist.

PBP also maintains its own registration in Northern Ireland.

The newly formed independent Ireland is said to be right-wing, critical of immigration and opposed to “open borders”.

It was formed in 2023 by former independent TDs Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue.

Mr Collins said the party was trying to offer a “comfortable option” to voters who were dissatisfied with the coalition of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens but did not want to vote for Sinn Féin.