IRELAND faces weeks of coalition talks before a new government can be formed, as the two major right-wing parties work to form a stable administration in the wake of Friday’s general election.

With all 174 legislative seats filled after three days of vote-counting, Fianna Fail had 48 seats and Fine Gael 38. The two parties, who have governed in coalition since 2020, fell just short of the 88 needed to achieve a majority without third-party support.

“The people have spoken. Let us now get on with the work,” said Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.