Government formation in 2007

Abstract

The 2007 election pitted alternative governments against each other: the incumbent government of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats against the self-styled ‘Alliance for Change’ of Fine Gael and Labour. The politics of coalition formation is important not only once the election has revealed the numbers that determine the possible government options, but also before the election, because voters may make their choices on the basis of possible governments, and if certain governments are perceived as unviable this may affect a party’s level of support. This may help to explain Fine Gael’s disastrous performance in 2002.¹ It is also important because the electoral system, PRSTV, allows voters to rank order candidates and by implication parties. Voters can ensure that if their vote is transferred it passes to their party’s indicated preferred coalition partner.²

This chapter is partially based on interviews with representatives from the three government parties who were close to the negotiations and with one Independent TD.