By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - Ireland's two dominant center-right parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, appear poised Saturday to retain power following a general election.
With neither party likely to secure an outright majority, however, they may need at least one additional coalition partner to form a stable government.
Preliminary tallies by Virgin Media News put Fianna Fáil at 21.9% of first-preference votes and Fine Gael at 20.5%, with left-wing Sinn Féin close behind at 19.1%.
Fianna Fáil leader and Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin acknowledged the likelihood of coalition talks, "Clearly there is a route there to government ... but a lot will depend on how many seats the respective parties get," he said.
Prime Minister Simon Harris of Fine Gael expressed similar optimism, noting a potential "leadership role" for his party in a centrist government. "It's likely now, I believe, it will be possible to work to form a stable, centrist government," Harris told Newstalk Radio.
While Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have ruled out collaborating with Sinn Féin, the necessity of a coalition raises concerns about the stability of the next government, particularly with the looming inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump's promises to slash corporate taxes and impose tariffs are viewed as potential challenges for Ireland's export-driven economy which is heavily reliant on multinational investment.
Ireland's proportional representation voting system complicates the final allocation of seats, with official results not expected until Sunday.
The outcome will determine the extent of the negotiation required to form a coalition, with many waiting to see if the center-right establishment can solidify its dominance in the face of rising left-wing momentum.