Ireland: Micheal Martin is New Prime Minister

After much negotiation, a new government has been formed in Ireland. Micheal Martin became the new Taoiseach, i.e. Prime Minister, thanks to an agreement between his center-right Fianna Fail party, which renewed the agreement the previous government was based on, and another party of the same political persuasion, Fine Gael.

The election was held on November 29, 2024, and there was no clear majority. The Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties therefore had to rely on the support of seven independent MPs. The 64-year-old Micheal Martin was elected with 95 votes “in favor” and 76 “against.” The pact provides for alternating prime ministerial roles: starting November 2027, Fine Gael party leader Simon Harris will take over as prime minister.

Therefore, a consolidated coalition between the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties is being recreated, but with a different external support: in the last executive government they were supported by the Green Party.

In his first words as prime minister, Martin reiterated that he would work to “reform and strengthen the European Union,” pledging to defend “freedom and democracy.” Mentioning the new US President Donald Trump was inevitable. “We are not naive about the reality of change, but at the same time the relationship between Ireland and the USA is mutually beneficial and will continue to develop with full vigor no matter what.”