Elaine Byrne: Minority rule - get used to it

Elections are no longer a competition among centre parties

Finna Fail leader Michael Martin Pic:RollingNews.ie

Fianna Fáil’s strategic objective from the outset of the campaign was to put the option of a minority government firmly on the table. The party’s preparations for this eventuality were evident last Monday when it set the agenda early for talks by publishing a detailed shopping list of political reforms. Fianna Fáil had wised up to the changing electoral landscape in Europe.

Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the Netherlands have had minority governments ...