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Does Fianna Fáil have a political future?

NOG92

Despite being the party that has been in government the most number of times since the foundation of the state, Fianna Fáil finds itself in a rather precarious position.

While FF experienced a modest recovery following its 2011 meltdown, the party has struggled to regain its once dominant position in Irish politics.

In the last general election of 2020, the party of Dev managed to only take 38 of the 160 seats in Dáil Éireann, down seven from its 2016 showing.

Now, with disquiet among backbenchers concerning the direction of the party and internal division over who should lead FF into the next election, the question has to be asked: does Fianna Fáil have a political future?

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Comments

Zebra3

Hard to see TDs from FFFG or the Greens pulling the plug.

How many would fancy their chances of getting back in?

Luxembourgo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119491100#Comment_119491100

I think you are probably right on that, most people get swayed by the narrative these days. And SF are excellent at that

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119490316#Comment_119490316

Solution to what? If you're referring to politicians lying, then I don't have a problem. It's what they do. All of them.

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494242#Comment_119494242

Yes a solution to them telling lies.

Any ideas?

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494878#Comment_119494878

Which politician do you think is not lying?

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494881#Comment_119494881

I'm sure there are plenty of truthful and dedicated individuals across the entire political spectrum. High profile lies should be called out. Michael Martin is a liar. Varadkar is a liar. Mary Lou is a liar

Our system is broken. Take the greens for example. 93% of the population didn't vote for them yet they are making laws and rules for everyone. Sure they have zero mandate.

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494930#Comment_119494930

Incorrect the Greens do have a mandate and every party has a Green agenda included in it

Donyou honestly think a minor player in government is able to make huge decisions without the rest in the mix?

Im sorry to say but the people of ireland don’t seem to understand the political system in ireland, every time a minor player is in government they get the blame and are voted out in next election…like turf, both FF and FG said they would get rid of turf in 2019, yet we have people blaming the Greens in 2022 for banning turf 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494942#Comment_119494942

No they have zero mandate. 93% of people didn't vote for them.

Do you understand what a mandate is

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494956#Comment_119494956

I understand, you don't seem too, once anyone is elected they have a mandate. A single TD has a mandate for the people they represent.

A mandate is the authority granted by a constituency to act as its representative

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494956#Comment_119494956

You don't understand how our electoral system works for starters so you aren't really in a position to claim others don't understand what a mandate is

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495071#Comment_119495071

A farcical system where a party who 93% of the population didn't vote for get to make decisions and spend public money.

A pure cod

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494995#Comment_119494995

The party on a national level.

Semantics and goal post moving

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495084#Comment_119495084

A representative system that stops a party that gets ~35% taking full control, like the utterly flawed one next door

The government represents over half the voters. That's their mandate.

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495089#Comment_119495089

A mish mash of rejects holding each other up in desperation.

No good

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495099#Comment_119495099

And your alternative is?

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495165#Comment_119495165

I don't have one.

The current one is no good though

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495217#Comment_119495217

So you are complaining about the current system but have no alternatives?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495086#Comment_119495086

Do you understand what a mandate is now?

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495249#Comment_119495249

Absolutely . Do you have all of the answers to every question , situation , theory ,problem and so on?

I hope you do or else you can't voice your opinion

(Your logic)

Mandate, yes the greens don't have one. 93% of the population didn't vote for them. That's a fact

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495273#Comment_119495273

That’s not a fact by the way, not everyone in ireland voted, for any number of reasons

Plus the Greens got 7.1% of the vote

I will leave you to it 👍

Tonesjones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495323#Comment_119495323

That is a fact.

No votes no mandate .

Have a good evening anyway

Suckit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119455691#Comment_119455691

Zero real talent coming through in FG either. I can't be alone when I think FG could go before FF. Not worth starting another thread, but I wouldn't mind seeing how many think which one would likely find themselves in Labour's depths first.

The reason FG have got into power historically, and the reason they are in power now, is because FF messed up, and it angered voters, not because so many people agree with them. I mean, tbh there's slim pickings to vote one over the other, but regardless of how the older generation have voted historically, there are still plenty more that would choose FF over FG going to their roots. I think now they have both angered enough, and to lose so many voters to SF, but I think in the long run FG will be the party to lose out. FG have less hardcore support and now their ratings are similarly low.

I make no attempt to hid my relatively new found disdain for FG, but that is not where my opinion is coming from.

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119499875#Comment_119499875

Zero talent in every party except Sinn Fein if listened to the same few posters

In reality that is far from true. We even had people on here trying to play down TD with Masters etc. as not relevant 🤦‍♂️

Anyway, please don’t let me interrupt

NOG92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119499875#Comment_119499875

I don't think the problems are as acute in FG tbh. FG know what they are, they're going after that centre right vote and have planted their flag firmly in that camp. Could you say the same for FF? What's their ideology? Are they Centrists? Are thet Centre right? Or do they like to believe they are to the left of centre? It's just so unclear.

As for talent, I'm not saying either party is awash with phenomenal people but again here FG has fewer issues. Whatever people may think about their politics, FG have a few TDs who definitely could be seen as future leadership contenders, such as Simon Harris, Heather Humphreys, or Helen McEntee. And aside from anything else, I may completely oppose their policies and ideology but there's no denying they're way ahead in the competency stakes when compared with FF...

Suckit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119502196#Comment_119502196

could be seen as future leadership contenders, such as Simon Harris, Heather Humphreys, or Helen McEntee. And aside from anything else, I may completely oppose their policies and ideology but there's no denying they're way ahead in the competency stakes when compared with FF...

Really?

Simon Harris would not in any shape or form be considered as a leader imho. Even his own think he is meek. McEntee would be laughable, never done a thing in her life, walked into the MoJ and is doing an ongoing terrible job. She is a clown in a serious position. I'm not convinced she isn't a puppet either. Heather Humphreys definitely the strongest of those three, but if the first and last named there are considered competent, then we are all doomed. Very, very low bar set there.

Time will undoubtedly tell, but imho, FG have a lot less support nationwide than they think.

brokenangel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119502634#Comment_119502634

Yet all of these TD's, which you seem to think slagging them off is ok, has achieved more politically than the majority of TD's standing in the Dail

McEntee herself have achieved more than the entire opposition TD's across all parties. If she is a "clown" then what are the rest? maybe you can answer because I would never call any TD no matter what party they are in a "clown"

[Deleted User]

The 2nd most successful political party in history of the world,with it's centery anniversary in 2026,won't be going extinct......but will likely never rise to levels of its hayday again,and likely only be in government 1.5 terms per generation be imo (which is enough for any party tbh,as perpetual power corrupts)

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119502634#Comment_119502634

Mairead McGuiness is only one I seen within FG with anything approaching leadership skills (Coveney is a busted flush I feel now).....their headlong dive into cult of personality and divisive leadership,have left em a party who in opposition will knife each other and be ineffective at holding a government with large majority to account

(would also be a wise move,as they never demographically recovered among women/poorer voters,since their attacks on single mothers during recession era)

Annasopra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495323#Comment_119495323

It doesnt even work that way. Greens got 7.1% of 1st preference votes. Many voters still voted for them through giving them 2nd and lower preferences.

Annasopra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119494956#Comment_119494956

Not true. 93% of people who voted didnt give them a 1st preference. They may have given them a 2nd or lower preference so actually in that sense some of those 93% did vote for them.

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119503033#Comment_119503033

What has McEntee achieved, other than a few stints of maternity leave?

And Harris...a minister of education (and higher education!!) who failed a journalism degree. Woefully inadequate and out of his depth whatever he does.