Virus Pushes Sinn Fein Further From Power as Coalition In Sight

(Bloomberg) -- Ireland’s traditional parties of government inched toward a so-called grand coalition, squeezing out Sinn Fein, as the escalating coronavirus crisis gave them cover to overcome historic enmities.

“Scoping talks” between Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s Fine Gael and main opposition party Fianna Fail may start as soon as Wednesday, Fianna Fail lawmaker Michael McGrath said in a RTE Radio interview. The two negotiating teams could meet next week with the aim of forming a government, he said.

Reaching an agreement within weeks is “achievable,” McGrath said. “We absolutely need to have a coordinated national response to the coronavirus,” he added.

There have been 34 confirmed coronavirus cases in Ireland so far, and that number is expected to rise. Ireland has already canceled its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations while Varadkar warned the country may face a crisis “unprecedented in modern times.”

A Fine Gael and Fianna Fail dominated coalition would be first in the country’s history -- the two parties trace their origins to opposing sides of the nation’s civil war almost a century ago. The unfolding health crisis has changed the ``context” for talks, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said Tuesday.

A deal between the two, together with the Green Party, would lock left-wing nationalist Sinn Fein out of power. The party took 25% of the vote in last month’s inconclusive election, which left all parties short of a majority.

Sinn Fein’s support jumped to 35% in a Sunday Times poll published March 1, up from 25% in the election. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael showed combined support of 38%.

To contact the reporter on this story: Peter Flanagan in Dublin at pflanagan23@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ambereen Choudhury at achoudhury@bloomberg.net, Dara Doyle

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