After 98 years of enmity, bitterness, and division, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have formally ended hostilities and have agreed to enter government together, thus ending Civil War politics in Ireland. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin yesterday signed off on a “weird and wonderful” coalition deal aimed at avoiding a second general election. The agreement will now go before both parliamentary parties today for ratification before it is shared with the Green Party, Labour Party, and Social Democrats whose inclusion in government is sought. “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are only interested in power at all costs,” he said. Their aim is not to deliver real change but cling to power as they search for a mudguard.”Sources in all three of the smaller parties told the Irish Examiner that they remain “sceptical” as to their participation in any government involving Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Source: Irish Examiner April 15, 2020 03:22 UTC