Ireland's two biggest parties may be forced to bury generations of conflict borne out of the nation's civil war to form a grand coalition after Prime Minister Enda Kenny's government suffered massive losses in Friday's election. Kenny's Fine Gael secured 25 per cent in the election, according to a poll for broadcaster RTE, released on Saturday. Traditional rivals Fianna Fail secured 21 per cent. Under Ireland's electoral system, about 44 per cent is needed for an overall majority.
Like governments in Greece, Portugal and Spain, Kenny's alliance with the Labour Party emerged from Europe's debt crisis to feel the force of popular wrath over spending cuts and tax increases. Kenny's only option to provide political stability in the fastest-growing economy in the euro region is a pact with Fianna Fail.
