Simon and Mary Lou to go?

blackcard

Simon came in with a whole lot of energy but maybe not a lot of substance. He will be blamed for a poor campaign during which FG lost 10 seats or more. He comes across as earnest and well meaning most of the time but lacks charisma. Possibly Paschal Donohoe to replace him but he may be a better number 2.

Mary Lou has had a considerable time as leader but doesn't seem to know what Sinn Fein stands for except for a UI. In fairness, not many do know. Pearse Doherty is permanently angry. Not sure who else can step up

its_steve116

Jack Chambers I think will be leader of FF sooner rather than later.

I don't think either Harris or McDonald will step down; it would make no sense for O'Gorman to step down either as he is the Greens' only TD.

Pherekydes

FG gained 3 seats last I checked. SF gained 1. FF gained 10, LP gained 5, as did SD. Everyone's a winner (well, maybe not the GP)!

Madeoface

Chambers has all the charm and charisma of wet cabbages.

Harris should learn from his flop but Donohoe a much better option.

No alternative to Mary Lou if the Donegal barking dog is all that is on offer.

blackbox

I can't see Harris taking FG to another election.

Do party rules require him to submit to be re-elected as leader when he didn't get to be Taoiseach?

Danny healy ray

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914714#Comment_122914714

chambers won't be the leader there was another party leader a jackien airfairy type that looked down his nose at ordinary people ff won't stand for that norma foley is the stand out candidate for the ff leader job more so after her running mate been elected

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914763#Comment_122914763

MH will stay as FF leader for a while and the next leader will be from Dublin.
It makes sense the leader of the largest party in government should be from Dublin and recognise the importance of the capital to Ireland inc. 😉

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914763#Comment_122914763

Norma Foley! 😮 That would be a disaster but ok with me.

28064212

Well, that's certainly a… take on Harris' electoral performance.

Of the top three parties, FG had the smallest decrease in their percentage share of FPVs nationally - FF down 0.3 points, FG down 0.1 points, and SF down 5.5 points. They also collected three seats more than in 2020 (albeit in an expanded Dáil).

It also ignores that FG were dealing with (by far) the highest number of incumbents stepping down - 18 (more than half) of their sitting TDs did not run in 2024, which is a significant handicap. Not to mention they've been in power for nearly 14 straight years, and in a year where almost every developed country that held an election delivered a beating to the sitting government.

There's plenty of reasons you could be against Harris, but FG's electoral performance in 2024 is not one of them

Danny healy ray

I'm hearing martin is eyeing up a runfor the president of ireland

ff might need a new leader sooner than expected!

blackbox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914836#Comment_122914836

I can't see him giving up being Taoiseach in order to retire to the park.

Maybe after the next election…

Danny healy ray

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914943#Comment_122914943

Screenshot_20241202_204317_Samsung Internet.jpg

boylesports

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058383063/simon-and-mary-lou-to-go

Considering they bucked the trend worldwide and maintained their share of the vote and increased their seats, I can't see FG looking to replace Simon Harris. Considering the hue and cry about the country screaming for change and all the outgoing government had done wrong, or was failing at, FF and FG performed admirably.

Mary Lou won't go anywhere because there's nobody to replace her. Ordinarily I'd expect a leadership change after such a drop in vote share when there seemed to be an open goal in front of them. They'll just talk up their performance and their supporters will echo it.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058383063/simon-and-mary-lou-to-go

Fine Gael had 35 seats in the 2020 election.

Are you saying they now have only 25?

You might need to alert Sean Farrell

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122915107#Comment_122915107

I think someone must have been looking a ta fake news website or at least a mot up to the latest news one on it anyway as he was way off.

I do not see Harris going anywhere. He will regroup. There party will still be on Government as the second party and all they lose is the top seat as Taoiseach. Maybe they will have a rotating Taoiseach who knows.

I would say Simon Harris must be raging that he us not foing to meat Trump in the White House though not.

I do not envy who ever meets that Clown.

blackcard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122915107#Comment_122915107

FG were on 26% at the start of the election campaign which would have been equivalent to possibly 48+ seats. They ended up on 20.8% and got 38 seats so they 'lost' 10 seats during the campaign

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122915401#Comment_122915401

28% of what?

The exit polls ón the day couldn't even it it right

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122915401#Comment_122915401

Opinion polls count for nothing. Anybody giving them any credence is very naïve. Nobody was on 26% before the election. Only the votes last Friday count.

blackcard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122915430#Comment_122915430

In my opinion, there was a Harris bounce when he took over from Leo. There were a number of polls showing FG in the mid twenties with SF floundering. Between Michael O'Leary's gaffe, Simon's lack of patience with the carer which got 2m views and an average debate performance (MM was no better and MLMD waffled), there was a fall off in FG support during the campaign. I have no doubt less name recognition due to retirements also contributed but ultimately the buck stops with SH

Kermit.de.frog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914742#Comment_122914742

SF desperately need MLMcD to hold things together in Dublin. They have no alternatives.

Trampas

In most parties Mary Lou have already handed in her notice but this is Ireland so no chance. Simon is a toss up but I guess only in the role is will get a pass

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914943#Comment_122914943

There’s an implied agreement between party and voter that MM will lead the country if elected - I don’t think the electorate would take to kindly to MM ditching his role for a 14 year semi retired easy life in the big White House handing out medals and whatnot - in addition I honestly don’t think the electorate would vote for him right now in the numbers he needs- yes in maybe 5 years time if he steers the ship in the right direction but he’s nowhere near getting the presidency right now.

mattser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914971#Comment_122914971

Looking at that list MM should be 1/3 not 3/1. Decent odds IMHO.

farmerval

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914757#Comment_122914757

I think Harris got caught a bit like Theresa May, went to the country on a high personal rating, focused the campaign on themselves, once the air started to leak from the balloon things were hard to turn around, also, so many retiring dealt him a very poor hand. A lot of recognizable faces retired.

Another spell in power and get new faces into Ministerial and Junior minister roles might invigorate them, although, after so long in power, they look a tired party.

Hodors Appletart

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122914714#Comment_122914714

there will be a leadership election in the Greens anyway, it's part of their constitution

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122915928#Comment_122915928

What ministry will McEntee get as deputy leader? They will have to hide her someplace. Maybe where Simon was - 3rd level education.

Very interesting where Housing and Immigration falls in new govt. FFG won't be able to hide from Immigration this time around and Darragh won't take housing again.

The opposition will be a lot tougher this time and Roderic knows where the skeletons are buried now.

Viscount Aggro

At the count centre celebrating... I did not see McDonald being raised up on shoulders.