In other election news… Irish citizens will go to the polls in less than a month’s time, on November 29th, after PM Simon Harris announced an imminent election date.
Harris, who became Fine Gael leader and ‘Taoiseach’ of Ireland in April, hopes to extend his party’s 14-year run in office. In particular, it is clear that the PM intends to capitalise on falling support for the left-wing Sinn Féin opposition.
The government could have waited until March next year to go to the polling stations. But opinion polls—if you choose to pay any interest in them—currently put Fine Gael ahead of all other parties at 25%.
Parliament is meeting for the final time before the election ahead of its dissolution for campaigning on Friday.
Harris said he had held off on an election announcement in order to allow the finance bill, which enacts changes in the recent budget to pass, telling reporters:
It was important to do this in a way that was respectful, respectful to the budgetary process, respectful to getting the legislation passed and also making sure this coalition government, which has worked well, could come to an amicable end and I think we are now ready to put our case to the people in the weeks ahead.
I look forward to the weeks ahead and asking the people of Ireland for a mandate.
