Ireland’s parliament yesterday failed to formally elect Micheal Martin as the new prime minister amid chaotic scenes after opposition parties blocked the vote in protest at procedural speaking rights.The 64-year-old Martin was scheduled to be appointed as taoiseach (prime minister) for the second time ahead of a vote in the Dail (Irish parliament) in Dublin.Martin, whose centre-right Fianna Fail won the most seats at a general election in November, previously served as taoiseach between 2020 and 2022. Outgoing taoiseach Simon Harris, 38, who leads the centre-right Fine Gael that came third in the election, was scheduled to be appointed by parliament as EU member’s deputy prime minister.But opposition parties, led by the leftist-nationalist Sinn Fein — the second biggest party — forced the adjournment of parliament until today after the speaker twice suspended the session.Fianna Fail and Fine Gael combined — who led the previous government with the support of the Green Party — fell short of a majority in the 174-seat parliament at the November 29 vote, triggering inter-party coalition talks. The two parties, who have governed in turn since Ireland gained independence from Britain over a century ago, secured the support of a group of independent lawmakers last week to reach a coalition majority. Amid a heated row, Sinn Fein and other opposition parties objected to independent lawmakers who support the government being granted speaking time allocated to the opposition and blocked the day’s parliamentary business. Martin is now expected to be elected as taoiseach today with a resolution to the stalemate on speaking rights also on the agenda.
