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WELL, 2019 HAS come and gone and we haven’t seen a general election.
However, it looks likely that we’ll have an election this year.
In September, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that May 2020 “is the right moment” for a general election.
This timeline would allow Varadkar go the White House for St Patrick’s Day and also ensure he can attend the EU Council meeting in March.
We last had a general election in February 2016. If the Dáil were to run its full term we wouldn’t be due another one until April 2021.
So, today we want to know: Do you want a general election in 2020?
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Yes, but not another FG/Labour or FG/FF Government.
@KJmadra.: unless theres a massive upheaval that’s exactly what’s going to happen, I’m afraid.
@KJmadra.: that is what will happen. Supply and confidence will take care of it if needed
@KJmadra.: 60% of the population won’t vote outside of FF/FG so we’ll have the same two parties back in power in some shape or form.
@Gordon Hughes: yep. FG voters’ concept of a protest vote is to vote FF and vice versa. It will be interesting to see if the combined FFG vote continues its downward slide.
@Conoroconnor: The Polls are showing its not really on the slide for them (combined), they still have a strong showing in numbers, the rest is so fragmented it’s hard to see what can be cobbled together to make a govt, Rainbow govt’s never last in ireland.
@Gordon Hughes: agreed. The left needs to be getting its act together, instead it continues to fragment. There is actually a great opportunity for Labour to reinvent itself, get rid of the old guard completely and start again, maybe invite the other leftist parties to join in some way. Instead, they elected Howlin and are stuck in a rut.
@Conoroconnor: Labour aren’t the “left.” The “left” is PBP and a few independents, they have little or no support, and never will have.
The vast majority of irish voters will vote for FG, FF, SF, and independents who are aligned with them, oh! and maybe the Greens. The next Government will come from some combination of those parties.
@Conoroconnor: i agree, the 23-24% who are voting ‘no’ in this poll are the very people who’ll vote FG. They’ll always get enough that they can form a new Gov. When a political party that gets into office and forms a Government for the nation when it only has roughly 30% of the national votes, its not really a fair system. Unfortunately that’s the way things are.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: agreed. Labour’s problem is the old guard simply won’t retire. Look at who has already got Labour Dail nominations for the next general election. Ridiculous stuff.
@Conoroconnor: spot on.
@KJmadra.: let us know what works best for you KJ, I’ll give Leo a shout and let him know we’re going to bin the whole democracy thing.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: they are the far left.
@Da Vid: what do you suggest if allowing every person in the country a vote and when those votes are counted the people with the most votes form a government is not fair. Maybe do an
IQ test for vote?
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: I agree they aren’t ‘the left’ at the moment, thats my point, but they could be if they revamped and refocused on the original aims of the party and turf out the old guard like Burton and Howlin. The only way the FFG monopoly will be broken is by a coming together of the leftist type parties either as a grand coalition or merging to form a single party. Otherwise the voters have no viable alternative except tweedledum or tweedledee for at least the next 25- 30 years.
@Conoroconnor: no that will never happen as avarice is endemic in the Liebour party!!
@Conoroconnor:
The “Left” has no support. “Left” Parties get between 1% and 2% of the vote. If Labour became a party of the left, they would be decimated.
The people of Ireland have always voted for parties or independents in the centre sphere: FG, FF, Lab,Independents and in more recent times SF and the SDs. I doubt very much that will change in the next, or any subsequent elections.
@KJmadra.: don’t want the shinners either, there record one government in NI is abysmal
@Conoroconnor: You’re 100% on this, if the left had of worked together after the crash instead of fighting amongst themselves we might not have had a continuity of the FF/FG monopoly we have today, SF consider themselves ‘left’, but they flip flop on so many issues it’s had to determine their true leaning, If SF, PBP, LAB, Soc Dems, the bulk of the independents had of come together and worked towards a common goal of forming a viable alternative govt, the voters would have jumped all over it. they didn’t and to this day still fight each other instead of FF/FG. the voters need something new to vote for
@Gordon Hughes: Sinn Féin would be crucified in the polls if they joined up with PBP. Many Sinn Féin supporters are very right of centre. The Independents & the Social Democrats are poles apart from the PBP. They would never align themselves with them.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Sinn Fein claim to be lefty socialists, if the ‘left’ are to ever have a say in Govt these parties would need to find common ground
I would like to see an election asap, but for the first time I don’t know who to vote for, as I trust none of them at the moment.
@just arno!!: i agree, All parties are as bad as each other, no current party has shown us anything to suggest the country would be run any different to how it is run now. All self serving c%^*^s
@just arno!!: Aontu, untouched by scandal and cronyism that’s is endemic in all the others
@eric nelligan: only around a year… nah
@Tom Kelly: unless people vote for new parties the status quo will just continue and dysfunctional FF/FG is all we’ll get. Maybe in combo with Greens or Labour.
@just arno!!:
Same here.
It seems pretty pointless tbh. They all excel in being ludicrous.
@eric nelligan: So far right wing it is for you
I think Leo and co have had more than enough time to show us what they are capable of….
@3isamagicnumber: genuinely interested to know what’s your alternative? FF who brought the country to its knees? SF who haven’t been to work up the North in how many years? I’m not even going to mention labour or the greens. FG are RTÉ I my party in this country of some competency.
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: three (3) years now SF have ignored the voters of Northern Ireland. But have still claimed 3 years of salaries, Dup as equally bad in all that, the people of northern Ireland moved away from both parties in the last election showing they are sick of their inaction, I wonder will the same happen to FF/FG down south, I would like to hear what people think is a viable alternative to FF/FG though.
@Gordon Hughes: Social Democrats
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: Don’t forget FG couldn’t work the DUP in the North either. They released press releases 2 years ago that a deal between the DUP and SF had been reached. Leo was on his way up for the press conference hailing the breakthrough, only for the DUP to pull the rug on moving forward yet again. It was very embarrassing for FG.
@Ryan Kelly: i like them but they don’t have the numbers to get near a partnership in govt, they need to build their base to be considered a force in Irish politics, They have a few headline politicians but seem weak in candidates once you go outside of the main people
@DaMoons: That’s a bit unkind. You never stop telling us how difficult it is to work with the DUP. Surely when the DUP goes QED your instinct should be empathy. Embarrassing is SFs performance at the Presidential, Local & European elections. I’d be scarlet for McDonalds Ma, as she might say herself.
@Gordon Hughes: I understand that concern with regards to the numbers. However, the base will never grow if people who would consider voting for SocDems never vote for them. We have to stop tactically voting or not voting for smaller parties because of the perceived inevitable outcome of the election. That’s what the likes of FG/FF rely upon – a sense that the current options are the only options feasible.
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: this is (yet another) kite flying poll by the Journal on behalf of FG – who are so out of touch they have resort to this to judge the mood of the people.
You appear to be one of their shills lol
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: time to give sf a chance, we’d all be driving diesel cars again and wearing fake designer gear.
@Jazz Buckler: Out if curiosity how do you think that FG are able to get the Journal to run these polls on their behalf and at the same time all the Journal’s Journalists keep quiet about it. That’s the part I find truly amazing.
@Paddy J: €€€€€€€€€€€€€
@Ryan Kelly: your having a laugh, a party who would fund rte with more money is one of it’s policies, economically illiterate!!
@David Corrigan: I’m sure you are pulling my leg David :) Is the simpler answer not usually the correct one, these election polls generate loads of clicks and never disappoint in pulling in the punters. Clicks = €€.
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: I’m voting for Aontu. I think a new party deserves a chance after the repeated failures of FF/FG. If we keep voting the same way we can’t expect the results to be different.
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: God forbid FF. Yes, they brought the country to it’s knees. The country is doing OK under FG, economic and especially social progress which started to bring this country into the 21Century.
However, there is more to be done. Some things I was angry about eg: VAT increases on restaurants and hotels. This could damage the tourist industry
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: Profit before people are the only alternative.
Leo,Harris and Murphy our of their depth! National school kids would do a better job!
@Bull McCabe: I’m doing well under Leo & co. I’ll be voting FG. My lovely Leo.
Yes , provided that ALL election posters are banned before hand for all parties
No im quite happy the way things are.
@Seriously stunned: wow, youre in the vast minority and completely wrong, im doing ok myself but can still see the country being run into the ground, yourself and that kind of attitude is whats wrong with the voters in this country.
@Seriously stunned: Last election was 2015, in accordance with democracy this year is the time.
@Shane Barry: Sorry Shane it was in 2016 so the government can run for another year.
@Shane Barry: I can predict with confidence that the next GE will be on or before 10 April next year.
@Thomas Maher: sorry im not good at typing sarcasm
ASAP.
Leo steps out, Mícheál steps in again. Mícheál steps out, Leo steps in again, etc, etc.
@David Stewart: learning to dance for the Leinster house ball?
@David Stewart: Hmmm. Are you Dave Stewart?
Enough already with the Leo photos, we all know what he looks like by now.
Shouldn’t this be when (ASAP) not if?
Yep, to vote SocDems.
@Ryan Kelly: Social Democrats will not have candidates in nearly enough constituencies . I vote independent knowing the candidate will not get within an ass’s roar of getting elected. But in a small way it sends a message.
@Fred the Muss: Well done. It’s important to play a meaningful role in the democratic process.
@Fred the Muss: unfortunately the protest vote last time around delivered so many independents that it gave us an unstable government.
@John Mulligan: I agree, voting Independents isint always the right thing to do, but I can’t vote for FFG, No way to SF, Greens will screw me to the floor as I live in the country and Labour have Alan Kelly in the party and that’s reason enough for me not to vote them.
@John Mulligan: So unstable that we haven’t had another general election in years. I’d like to see people voting for better reasons than the fact that you don’t want other people to vote in independent candidates. As I see it, their job is often to highlight certain failures of current government.
No. I just want our elected representatives to do their job properly and effectively. That seems to be an impossible ask once a person gets elected in this country.
We need leaders to lead.
Ministers to grow balls.
TDs to be honest and the whole of the the public service to work effectively and for the better of the country and not just themselves.
I don’t think an election will bring this anytime soon judging by the snakes in the long grass.
Do you?
@Martin Stapleton: With you on the need for honesty and public service. But why balls, so they can scratch them in the Dáil? I don’t care what they grow, wear or do on their plentiful free time. Not so much with the idle wishing for some sort of role model or hero in an expensive suit & tie. I don’t look to politicians to set a personal example in fashion or lifestyle or anything else. I want them to acknowledge the issues, do the work and quit playing to the gallery.
Won’t make a difference, it’ll be another 20-30 years before the Big Two parties are removed from government, demographics need to change.
There’s no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael
@Sam: Sure there is, if you ask your Grandad. In recent history, not so much, I’ll give you that.
@John Considine: FF would lead us back to the dark ages, especially, in social issues. FF still looking over their shoulder to the Catholic Church!
Fg/ff out well labour don’t matter and the greens well all I can say there is if want the air you breath taxed say no more. Like to see sf in power with irish freedom party.
People in Ireland are deluded beyond belief, vote in Fianna Fail.. Things start to go wrong, they complain, another election they vote in Fine Gael, things start to go wrong… Repeat all over again.
The definition of madness, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, FG, FF are all but the same as are Labour and many power hungry independents will abandon anything they ever stood for just to get into government.
@Sean71: it’s the underpants x and y theory. You wear underpants x as long as you can and then put on underpants y after a while underpants x starts to look good again and so on all the time getting stinker and stinkier
We have a leader who hasn’t been voted in my the people. If Leo wants to be? Let him ask the country!
@Michael: We have a leader who wouldn’t lead a verse of “ring a ring a Rosie”.Its time the Spin master was removed.
Any party takes away the universal social charge, as was promised by FG, has my vote.
The sooner the better.
The premise of the question / poll is completely wrong.
Under the Constitution, the current Government is legally bound to call a General Election before the end of May … no IFs , But’s or Maybe’s… as the current government / Dail will have exceeded it’s 5 year term by then…
The real question is will the General Election be before Paddy’s Day or after…… my money is on early election..
What’s the point? It’s six of one or a half dozen of the other.
I just hope that when there is a election that Fianna Fáil don’t get back into power.
A change is always good .The arrogance levels at the moment are staggering and if nothing else an election campaign will be a reminder to the govt of how well they DIDNT do…and not their own spin this time.In the meantime Leo will continue to rewrite history and Lauder the wonderful job they have done on everything, including Housing……you couldn’t make up some of the shit that man comes out with.
The current Govt. is tired–must be all those Govt. initiatives that we read about on a daily basis–we cannot expect them to keep creating such initiatives -lets give them a rest from their labours
It is high time to rid ourselves of the parasites in FG,FF,LAB and the Greens.
Seems to be the same old ding dong everytime, another version of ex teachers in the cabinet , political dynasties who are only playing their game.
I would love a change but I don’t see one coming GE or not ,I will vote but with very little confidence
@John Walsh: just vote one person only no 2nd or 3rd that way the winner is first no five or ten counts to squeeze more useless career politicians into govt if they are not good enough to be no 1 they aren’t good enough to govern
@Peter donnelly: Seriously, rethink that. If nothing else, vote in the least worst to keep the greediest ones out. You know that the worst will have plenty of support if you don’t bother.
Ireland has National emergencies in homelessness, housing and health and if we don’t get in a Government capable of dealing with them then the future is bleak for many more people.The population estimated to grow by 1.75m in the next 32 years so adequate affordable housing stock needed, secure affordable rental tenancies,effective healthcare (& other)policies,etc.Tackling these National Emergencies should be seen as more important than party politics,good policies are needed and I think SF’s policies could be very effective plus I like the SDs too.
Im sick of spin.
I’m sick of dehumanising re those affected by these emergencies.
I’m sick of divide and conquer spin which unfortunately can be seen all too often and works by deflecting our attention away from the causes of many serious issues in our society is ineffective policies,etc.
Its up to us the voter to see beyond the spin,divide and conquer, deflection and vote for good policies which can improve society and adequately tackle the ongoing National emergencies,that’s my wish for 2020.
Also remember that the next Government can lower the threshold re excessive usage of water as per legislation re water charges which has been put off until 2022!
Maybe vote SF so I could pack in my job, get a council house, go on holidays 3-4 times a year never again pay tax and spend my days in the pub,
And we’ll get one…once FF/FG have hammered out the details of their new power sharing arrangement behind the scenes….democracy at it’s finest…
Maybe this time the population will grow a brain……well I can only hope..?
The only choice is between 2020 and very early 2021, seeing as the last one was in early 2016.
National party
Any hope of a “strong leader” to “take ireland back” emerging a la trump, bojo or bolsonaro? Seems to be an opening for one..
@Patrick Fitzgerald: 3 right wing nut jobs
Sooner the better
Who’s there to replace them? All others are just as much puttets on a string…. Mary lou and her cronies are just as bed as FF/FG/LB. None of them are prepared for the huge landslide and bust hurdling down the tracks, following UK leaving EU.
@Joseph Molloy: So keep voting for FF/FG/LB, let them run the country into the ground, tax us into oblivion and piss away our money as they weather scandal after scandal after scandal, let foreign vulture funds and their rich pals run roughshod over the country, openly corrupt and self-serving, contemptuous of the publics cries for *any* sort of repercussions or accountability – secure in the knowledge that they’ll NEVER be held accountable and always be in power because – what did you say again?
“Who’s there to replace them? All others are just as much puppets on a string”. Good man.
Sooner the better
My Lovely Leo for Taoiseach. MeHole Martin is just not ready yet.
Their all the same… Get rid em all n put my 6 year old niece to run things…. Guaranteed issues be sorted out fast as the climate change!
@Anthony Mc Donald:
Yes! Out with Mr Potatoehead
Can’t come soon enough. The time is well overdue to get rid of the blueshirt traitors and their buddies once and for all.
The working class and most vulnerable in our society never have and never will have a hope of a decent life under this regime.
@Gary Kearney: exactly.. i think ireland will be next. Hope im 100% wrong
Completely disagree, maybe you should do a bit of research before you discuss things you obviously have no idea about!
have your say