El marc polític d'Irlanda

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Michael D. Higgins (since 29 October 2011, re-elected in October 2018)
Prime Minister: Leo Varadkar (since 16 December 2022)

Next Election Dates

Presidential elections: November 2025
Senate: March 2025
House of Representatives: March 2025

Current Political Context

The existing coalition government, composed of three parties namely Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party, with the first two historically at odds, assumed power in June 2020 following four months of negotiations. An agreement was reached stipulating that Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil (centre), would serve as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) for the initial portion of the tenure, after which Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael, centre-right) would assume the position. The transition was finalized in December 2022, and the arrangement has remained generally stable since then.
The Northern Ireland Protocol triggered an election in Northern Ireland in 2022, prompted by the resignation of the sitting First Minister, Paul Givan of the Democratic Unionist Party, in protest over the Protocol. This resulted in Northern Irish Sinn Féin securing 29% of the votes, marking the first instance in history where they became the largest party. Sinn Féin now holds the distinction of being the largest party in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This development, coupled with Brexit and demographic shifts, has sparked increased discussions about the potential for a referendum on Irish unification, though an actual vote is generally considered plausible in 5-10 years, with the majority in Northern Ireland still opposed to it. The Windsor framework, announced in February 2023, has notably improved relations between Ireland and the UK, promising enhanced trade prospects. Nonetheless, the suspension of the Stormont Assembly, the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland, underscores persisting political tensions in the region.

Main Political Parties

The main parties currently represented in the parliament include:

- Fianna Fail: centre/centre-right, populist
- Fine Gael: centre-right, socially moderate and fiscally conservative. Allied with Fianna Fail
- Sinn Fein: left-wing, democratic socialist and Irish republican party advocating for a united Ireland. It is the main opposition party
- Labour: centre-left social-democratic party founded in 1912, advocating for workers' rights and social justice
- Green Party: centre-left, driven by green politics
- Social Democrats: centre-left party advocating for social justice and progressive social policies
- People Before Profit–Solidarity (PBPS): a left-wing electoral alliances formed by members of two socialist political parties: People Before Profit (PBP) and Solidarity.
- Independent Ireland: promoting non-affiliated, grassroots-driven governance and policies in Ireland
- Aontú (Unity): conservative nationalist party promoting traditional values and advocating for Irish unity
- Right to Change: left-wing, focusing on social and economic justice, grassroots activism, and progressive policies.

Executive Power

The President, who serves as the Head of State in a largely ceremonial role, is elected for a 7-year term and can be re-elected only once. The Prime Minister (Taoiseach) is the Head of the Government. He is appointed by the president after being appointed by the lower house.

Legislative Power

Bicameral national Parliament (Oireachtas): House of Representatives (Dail) and Senate (Seanad). The Chamber of Deputies has 166 members elected by universal suffrage and the Senate is composed of 60 members (one part elected by the national universities and the other part by a representative panel of the civil society).

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

12/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Free

Political Freedom:

1/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House