Sinn Féin Gains in Irish Election: AP

UPDATED: Sinn Féin won nearly 25 percent of the vote in Ireland’s February 8 election. “In a surge that upended Ireland’s traditional two-party system, the left-wing nationalist party beat both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, the centrist parties that have governed Ireland since it won independence from Britain a century ago,” reports the Associated Press. “Sinn Fein’s left-wing proposals for tackling Ireland’s housing crisis and creaking healthcare system proved a powerful draw for young voters in a country that is still dealing with aftershocks of the 2008 global financial crisis, which hammered its debt-driven ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy.” Ireland relies on a proportional-representation system, and all parties must negotiate a coalition government, and Fianna Fáil eventually accumulated more votes. The article concludes, “Brexit looks likely to nudge Northern Ireland’s economy closer to that of its southern neighbour, and could increase pressure for a vote on unification,” Sinn Féin’s platform supports reunification with Northern Ireland, with a call for a vote within five years. – YaleGlobal