Michael Martin has been elected as the Republic of Ireland’s prime minister for a second time, following a vote in the Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) on Thursday, Al Jazeera reports.
The Fianna Fáil leader secured 95 votes to 76, marking his return to the Taoiseach’s (Prime Minister’s) office.
Martin will head a coalition government comprised of the two largest center-right parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, along with independent lawmakers. His nomination was delayed by a day due to parliamentary chaos on Wednesday, when opposition protests over speaking rights for independent members supporting the incoming coalition forced a suspension of proceedings. The deadlock was resolved overnight through negotiations.
This is the second consecutive coalition between historic rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, which have dominated Irish politics since 1937. Independent ministers will take the place of the Green Party, previously a junior coalition partner, who lost most of their seats in the November elections.
Martin, 64, previously served as Taoiseach from 2020 to 2022, handing the reins to Fine Gael’s Simon Harris as per their coalition agreement. Under the terms of the deal, Harris is scheduled to return as Prime Minister in 2027. For now, Harris will assume the role of deputy prime minister and is also expected to take on the foreign minister portfolio. Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe, current chair of the group of eurozone finance ministers, is anticipated to return to his position as finance minister.
The new government will face considerable economic challenges, most immediately the potential fallout from the return of Donald Trump to the US Presidency. Trump’s pledge to cut corporate taxes poses a threat to Ireland’s economy, heavily reliant on foreign multinationals. Martin has emphasized the need to strengthen “three essential relationships” with Europe, the US, and the United Kingdom, in order to safeguard Ireland’s economic model. The coalition has also pledged to use a tax windfall derived from US multinationals to increase public sector investment, cut taxes, and continue building Ireland’s sovereign wealth fund.
Martin, who was first elected to Parliament 36 years ago, held a senior role in the Fianna Fáil government that agreed to an EU-IMF bailout in 2010, leading to a major electoral defeat in 2011 shortly after he became party leader. The former history teacher successfully led a turnaround in the party’s fortunes, returning Fianna Fáil to power nine years later.
