Ireland’s incumbent parties look likely to hang on to power after a fractured election

Associated Press

DUBLIN (AP) — Results from Ireland’s election suggest the two dominant center-right parties look likely to form a new government. If they do, it will be with a reduced vote share and after complex coalition negotiations. As ballot-counting continued Sunday, incumbent governing parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were on course to be the two biggest parties in the 174-seat parliament. Left-of-center opposition Sinn Fein was running a close third. No party will have enough seats to govern on its own.  the most likely outcome is a coalition between Fianna Fail, led by Micheál Martin, and Fine Gael under outgoing Prime Minister Simon Harris.  Sinn Fein lacks a clear path to power because the other two parties say they won’t work with it.