Sinn Fein and how do they form a government dilemma

What kind of weird British FPTP nonsense is this? The public giving SF a mandate to form a government by being the largest party?

This is Ireland, mate, a proper democracy. Being the largest party doesn't give you a mandate to form a government if, in fact, the majority of voters have rejected you, and a majority of their representatives don't support you. What it does is to put you in pole position to form a coalition. You get first bite of the cherry, so to speak, when it comes to finding common ground with other parties so that you can put together a programme for government that will secure the assent of a majority.

This is a challenge SF has never had to rise to before, north or south and, given the party's antecedents and historical experience, there's a very real question over whether they have the wherewithall to rise to it. It will require a huge change in culture and outlook. I'm old enough to remember when Fianna Fáil had to develop these skills; it was a slow and painful experience for them. I think the challenge for SF will be at least as big.

If SF is the largest party but doesn't become part of a viable coalition, no doubt SF supporters will spout this "mandate" shïte and feel aggrieved. But those who didn't vote for SF — the large majority, remember — may conclude that SF have demonstrated that they don't yet have the political skills required to form and lead a viable coalition. Whining about a "mandate" based on a clear minority of the vote will tend to reinforce that perception, so maybe don't do it.

Of course, there will be demands. That is why there will be long and protracted negotiations.

Given that FF have much much more experience at that than SF, id wager they will win that one.

But welcome to the reality of Irish politics. Every government is ultimately a compromise between parties. SF will know all about that soon and their poll numbers will crash because of it, because their voters arent the brightest when it comes to the ins and out of our political system.

Very similar to Geert Wilders and his PVV party in the Netherlands. Largest amount of representatives gave them the right to open coalition talks - but they lacked the political skills and yes, maturity, to actually agree a program for government and take office. I could absolutely see SF in the same position in a year's time.

It will be a compromise not a capitulation.
You guys seem to think that another political party is going to go cap in hand asking to please be allowed to the governing table.
Nothing in SF's history would lead me to that conclusion.

Folk here reckon FF, on 17% of the vote will demand , all the top and key jobs, will dictate what policy is allowed be implemented and then look for a rotating Taoiseach as the cherry on top and you think SF have issue with 'maturity'?

the reason SF didn't get into government last time is they couldn't/wouldn't compromise. its what coalition politics is all about like it or not. I can see SF been in exactly the same position next time and still bleating about popular mandates and refusing to compromise.

FF won't make demands what planet are you living on.

You'd have a point if people got carried away with mid term polls and confused them with actual elections.

Its more than a trend now though,its a slide

4 years fighting this government for to end up back at the numbers had at the start?

It would NOT want to slide any further

It would be naive of politics watchers not to wonder what sort of head scratching is going on in HQ about it,do Sinn Féin also need a reset ?

Go on Raoul, please show us what 'negotiations' they failed to compromise in?

Where and at what point in the 'mature negotiations' with FG and FF, for instance, did this happen?

Or did somebody take their balls home before the game even begun?

SF don't have much of a bench, if by 'reset' you mean some kind of Opposition front bench reshuffle?

In fact, their pool of talent looks really weak and you do have to wonder how they would hold up under the white heat of scrutiny in government. I think Pearse Doherty would be badly exposed for one - any time I've ever heard him attempt to speak about economic issues in any depth he comes across as totally clueless (probably understandably given he has zero background, educational or career, in the area).

The spotlight will be on SF on who to reach out to and what to offer first and foremost

That is how it worked in the past.

It will take months id wager to get a deal.

And we havent even menetioned the, "We want a government without FF or FG" mantra that SF is pushing.

SF supporters will be in for a shock when they start talking to them.

by the way, is this thread just Francie batting on his own for SF? He's a busy man! With this kind of work ethic, Mary Loo should put him in charge of election strategy.

It could conceivably end up with a merger of the three "Republican parties" - FG, FF and SF in time? As SF gradually go more centrist etc.

The next argument would be what the new party would be called.

I doubt it would happen in my lifetime. But when all those from "The Troubles" era are long gone it makes it more likely it could happen.

Lol Francie,if thats what Sinn Féin's analysis is of the latest polling,the current government will be a shoe in

After 4 years of this government,FG are where they started,meanwhile so are SF,are you seriously asking me why I think thats very disappointing for the main opposion party,to have 4 years being the main opposition come to nothing ?