Our Privacy Statement & Cookie Policy

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.

I agree

Irish Prime Minister set to call snap general election

CGTN

Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris plans to call a parliamentary election. /Reuters/Nathan Howard
Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris plans to call a parliamentary election. /Reuters/Nathan Howard

Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Simon Harris plans to call a parliamentary election. /Reuters/Nathan Howard

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said on Tuesday that he plans to call a parliamentary election later this week, likely setting up a polling date for the end of the month.

Harris has until March to go to the polls but has been laying the ground for an earlier election since last month's $11.44 billion budget giveaway, with many voters starting to benefit from the package this week.

"I do intend to seek a dissolution of the Dail (parliament) this week, I don't think that will come as a shock to any person right across this country," Harris told reporters.

"We need to get through the business of the next few days first," he added, referring to legislation the government aims to pass through parliament by Thursday before Harris names the election date, expected to be November 29.

An opinion poll on Sunday put Harris' Fine Gael on 26 percent, its main coalition partner and fellow center-right party Fianna Fail on 20 percent, with the main opposition party Sinn Fein trailing on 18 percent.

Source(s): Reuters
Search Trends