Centrist Fianna Fail (FF) is set to.........>

IRELAND: Centrist Fianna Fail (FF) is set to reject entering coalition

negotiations with left-wing nationalist Sinn Fein (SF) following the

inconclusive general election on 8 February according to RTE. 

- FF won 38 of 160 seats to 37 for SF, with the incumbent Fine Gael (FG) of

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on 35 seats. The split of seats between the parties means

two of the three will likely be required to work together to form a workable

governing coalition. 

- If FF will not work with SF, one of the few options for governing would be a

FF minority gov't propped up by FG. SF and FG have already stated their

unwillingness to work together.

- There is a non-negligible prospect of snap elections having to be called to

try to resolve any impasse.