Election results raise prospect of another coalition of equals – Varadkar

European and local election results in Ireland create the prospect of another “coalition of equals” between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, Leo Varadkar has said.

The former Taoiseach said “an instability” could have been created if one party had got too far ahead of the other.

Ireland voted last week to choose 949 local councillors, 14 MEPs and the country’s first directly elected mayor, in the first nationwide elections in four years.

Leo Varadkar speaking at an event in Belfast (Brian Lawless/PA)

The results saw the two largest coalition parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, reinforce their positions while the main opposition party Sinn Fein fell short of expectations

Fianna Fail doubled its presence in the European Parliament to four, with Fine Gael also on four.

Fianna Fail emerged as the largest party in local government with 248 seats on councils, with Fine Gael close behind on 245.

The results have heightened speculation that Mr Varadkar’s successor as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, could call an early autumn general election.

Speaking at an event in Belfast, Mr Varadkar, who is still a TD, welcomed the election results.

He said: “My party winning the biggest share of the vote in both the European and local elections, which was a much better result than we had expected or hoped for.

“I know general elections can be a different thing, it is a very different contest.”

Mr Varadkar pointed out that his party had good results in the local and European elections five years previously but then fell short of expectations in the general election eight months later.

He said: “One thing that probably is of significance and may be of political importance is that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are so close in elections.

“I think that probably reassures both parties a little.

“If one gets too far ahead of the other, that can create an instability.

“The fact that the two are so close creates the prospect of another coalition of equals between the two parties where there isn’t a junior or a senior partner.”