It is good that Ireland has, seemingly, a stable Government. Not least in these turbulent times when no one knows what to expect from Washington to our west, or from current turbulence in France and Germany to our east. Not to mention Ukraine. Let’s not even talk about Gaza.
It is remarkable how, here in Ireland, the only Opposition party to emerge from recent post-election shenanigans with its integrity intact is Sinn Féin. I say “remarkable” because of that party’s not-too-distant roots in violence and antipathy to this state.
Sinn Féin is the only Opposition party in the new Dáil that did not have the option of being part of this Government, due to its rejection by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
The same cannot be said of Labour, the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland, Aontú, other Independents and, however, unlikely, People Before Profit – Solidarity, increasingly the party of permanent Opposition. (Why vote for a party that refuses to enter any Government?)
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It might be argued that some smaller parties were outmanoeuvred in negotiations to form this Government, while others chose to make demands they knew would be refused, whatever supporters’ wishes.
Few people vote for a party to be in Opposition.
The two current Opposition parties with most questions to answer in connection with the formation of this new Government are Labour and the Social Democrats. Both, or either, could have been part of it, but chose not to, and for less than noble reasons. They wanted to ensure the other would not benefit at the next general election.
Divided by spleen rather than policy, both put such flimsy division before the hopes of their supporters. Despite which, they are already criticising the new Government. No problem there but, in their circumstances, they might be more circumspect.
They had a very real opportunity to be in power but, having abjured that for narrow party-political reasons, they should allow voters the grace of their silence for a decent period.
Having chosen Opposition over Government for such lesser reasons, they cleared the way for Michael Lowry to be midwife to this new administration, further discrediting Irish politics more generally, by enabling “low standards in high places” to make an unwelcome return.
They share responsibility for that too.
Politics, from Latin politicus , Greek politikos, for “affairs of state”.
