Mary Lou: FF and FG looking to carve up power between them
MARY Lou McDonald has accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of a ‘carve-up’ of political power in a bid to block change.
The Sinn Féin president welcomed the ‘historic’ news that she had received the most votes to become Taoiseach as she called on her rivals to accept ‘the change that people voted for’.
It comes as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continue to undermine Sinn Féin and exclude them from a possible coalition deal.
‘[Thursday] was a historic day,’ said Ms McDonald. ‘For the first time in the history of the State, someone other than the leader of Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael received the most votes to become Taoiseach.
‘I am very grateful for that and for the support that I received from other TDs.
‘They recognise that people voted for change. That is what Sinn Féin want to deliver on. We want a government for change.’
Ms McDonald scored an impressive 45 votes in the first round – though it fell well short of the required majority to form a government.
She added that she would continue discussions with independent TDs from other leftwing parties including: the Green Party, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party and Solidarity-People-Before-Profit.
‘Despite the rejection of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s record over the past four years, they are now looking for a carve-up of political power that is about keeping them in office and blocking change,’ Ms McDonald said yesterday. ‘Any such proposal flies in the face of what people voted for and does not represent change.’
She also pledged to stick to Sinn Féin’s manifesto promises by negotiating with the left-wing parties on how best to deliver the change people voted for.
‘These discussions are about how we address the issues that were central to this election campaign – building homes, cutting rents and freezing them, guaranteeing the pension age at 65, health and the trolley crisis, climate change and Irish unity.’
It comes as Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin have agreed to exploratory talks next week. Fine Gael are also set to meet the Green Party to discuss the next government.