Ireland: What's at stake in the general election?

After growing speculation, the Irish prime minister has called a general election.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifyUS ElectionFull resultsKamala HarrisDonald TrumpJD VanceTim WalzSportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersWhat's at stake in the Irish general election?PA MediaThis will be the first major electoral test for the Fine Gael leaderWhen a politician insists they are not planning to call an election, it is best practice not to believe them.

Simon Harris is now among that rank of party leaders.

Having claimed for months that he wanted his government to serve its full term into next year, the temptation of positive polls has clearly proved too much.

In October the three parties of government agreed that the general election would take place this year - yesterday Harris officially called the election and asked the President Higgins to dissolve the Dáil.

But while this is the first major electoral test for the Fine Gael leader, for his political opponents there is just as much at stake.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87059nq999o

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