As this year’s General election raced towards a close the biggest headline of the day was a win for Marie Sherlock over Gerry “The Monk” Hutch in Dublin Central.
This short-lived victory was followed by a tense atmosphere and one hushed question being repeated – would Labour join a Fianna Fail, Fine Gael Coalition? For many online, any positivity on the question from Labour amounted to treachery in its highest form.
As Fine Gaels “New Energy” faded into ironic obscurity, towards the last stretch of the campaign “Vote Left, Transfer Left” emerged as one of the few notable quips of the campaign. It saw consistent usage both in the online sphere and in political campaigns, both People Before Profit/ Solidarity and Sinn Féin leaned on the phrase heavily to bolster their results.
In the wake of finally having a completed election results, it is obvious that “Vote Left, Transfer Left” has resulted in little more than a bump in results for The Social Democrats and Labour. Neither Sinn Féin or PBP/S have reaped few rewards from the movement.
This leaves those who were ardent online supporters of “Vote Left, Transfer Left” reckoning with a clear return of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to the Dail.
With a clear increase in seats for The Social Democrats and Labour, their names have been thrown around as options for a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael coalition. This has aroused commentary from much of the online left; who are adamant both the Social Democrats and Labour should remain firmly on the opposition bench.
The arguments circulated online as to why it is better for both parties to simply sit this government out are as weak as they are convoluted.
Some political analysts, especially the ones who only conduct themselves through X, have drawn attention to The Greens. Following their part in the last government, the party have found themselves with only a single seat.
Many online leftists have wagged their finger at The SocDems and Labour, The Greens act as a waving red flag (somewhat ironically) to the perils of entering a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael coalition.
In many ways this feels like an unfair characterisation of The Greens stint in government. To say The Green party simply did the bidding of Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael completely ignores the public transport cost reductions and the climate infrastructure achieved by the party.
While yes they have been nationally booted from Irish politics, it is not a fair assessment to label them pawns of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.
The more central argument that has been floated online isn’t as technical, adopting a more vibes and feelings based approach. This argument claims entering a coalition with, what can only be described in their eyes as the enemy, amounts to nothing more than treachery and utter betrayal.
This feels as strange as the last argument. During the campaign, these online activists were begrudged to have to support Sinn Féin to form a left wing government. Now they are adamant all left wing parties must sit tight on the opposition benches, handing Fianna Fail and Fine Gael a centre right government mandate (backed by independents) for the next four years.
As the old adage goes, “the best day in opposition will never beat the worst day in government”, from the front benches there are routes to change, from the opposition benches all a party can do is protest.
The election results may be a tough pill to swallow, but swallow it we must. A coalition with leftist voices should be a far less bitter pill for leftists, yet they protest such a move.
It seems as though the digital commentators want to have their cake and eat it, a centre right mandate government seems to be a more bearable option than engaging with the nuances of Irish politics.
