The two major center-right political parties in Ireland form a government coalition with the smaller Green Party. This puts an end to a four-month political stalemate. Election winner Sinn Féin has been sidelined.
On Saturday, parliament approved the coalition between Fine Gail, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party. Collaboration with the big election winner Sinn Féin was excluded in advance.
Nationalist-left Sinn Féin won the second highest number of seats in February. But cooperation with the former political arm of the militant resistance movement IRA was not an issue for the other winners.
It was still exciting whether the coalition agreement would be approved by the party members of the three. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gail have been rivals since the Irish Civil War and are now working together for the first time.
A deal has been made between the two about the premiership. Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil will start office. Halfway through the five-year term, former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Fine Gail will take over again.
Green Party enforces climate ambitions
Due to the refusal to cooperate with Sinn Féin, the Green Party as a preferred partner was able to impose great conditions on participation in the coalition.
Climate is therefore high on the agenda in the coalition agreement. On average, greenhouse gas emissions will have to be cut by 7 percent annually in the coming period, while the previous ambition was 2 percent.
With the agreement, the country avoids a deep political crisis, because no laws can be passed without a government.
Certainly now that the Irish border is being negotiated in connection with Brexit, it is important that there is a government.
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