Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin is facing a fresh political crisis after it emerged just over half of his party's supporters rejected his call to repeal the Eighth Amendment, writes political correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith. In recent months, Mr Martin has staunchly supported a yes vote poll, saying it is vital the country - and his own party - supports both a yes vote and 12 weeks unrestricted abortion access legislation. And while Fianna Fáil's vote breakdown was a marginal victory for no, the split means Mr Martin is facing another uphill battle to convince his own supporters to follow his progressive social voice. The RTE exit poll breakdown shows:Among party voters 74.9% of Fine Gael supporters backed yes; 74.5% of Sinn Féin; 80.3% of Labour; 88.9% of Green; and 82.1% of Solidarity-People Before Profit voted yes. However, 50.3% of Fianna Fáil supporters backed a no vote and 49.7% said yes, while Renua supporters surveyed all rejected any suggestion of changing the eighth amendment.

Source: Irish Examiner May 26, 2018 08:26 UTC