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Ahern looking for partners for new Irish government

Bertie Ahern looked yesterday for coalition partners to give him a third straight term as Ireland's prime minister after his party won the lion's share of seats in the country's general election.

On the back of the Celtic Tiger's booming economy, Ahern defied predictions of his downfall and led his center-right Fianna Fail party to capture 78 seats in the 166-seat Dail, the lower house of parliament.

The final result reported by RTE state radio gave it 41.6 percent of first preference votes.

Though well ahead of its closest rival, Fianna Fail finished five seats shy of the 83 needed for an overall majority and needs coalition partners to govern.

RTE also said late on Saturday that Fianna Fail's center-left rival Fine Gael finished with 51 seats and Fine Gael ally Labour took 20 seats, while the Greens captured six and Sinn Fein took four.

The Progressive Democrats, a partner in Ahern's outgoing coalition, grabbed only two seats after losing six in a voter meltdown, while Independent candidates took the remaining five seats.

Under Ireland's complicated system, voters are allowed to list candidates in order of preference.

The Irish Times said Ahern is "clearly setting his sights" on renewing the outgoing alliance with the rump of the Progressive Democrats.

The newspaper said the renewed alliance would also involve Independents backing the reconstituted coalition to make up an overall majority.

In 1997 to 2002, Ahern ruled with a similar minority government involving his Fianna Fail party and the Progressive Democrats supported by four Independents who negotiated special deals for their constituencies.

Other analysts have tipped the Greens as a potential partner, even though they have opposed Ahern's pro-business policies, or even Labour.

Despite a campaign that saw Ahern on the defensive when faced with questions about his personal finances while finance minister in the early 1990s, he has again proven he is a phenomenal vote-getter.

Ahern has presided over unprecedented economic success which has seen Ireland reap the benefits of the Celtic Tiger boom and has been hailed internationally for helping to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland.

Ahern described the election outcome as "exceptional," saying in an interview with RTE radio that his party would "do our utmost" to form a government by June 14, when parliament resumes.
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