Ireland gets new Prime Minister

By Vatican News

The leader of Ireland’s Fianna Fail party, Micheál Martin was elected Taoiseach or Prime Minister on Saturday after the country’s parliament or Dàil met in special session.

Mr. Martin was expected to meet with Irish President, Michael D Higgins to receive his seal of office.

His election comes after the three political parties: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party voted to approve a coalition deal Friday night.

The two larger centre-right parties needed the support of the Greens to have a working majority in the Irish parliament.

This historic deal comes after no party received a majority vote in a February General election.

In the last few months, coalition talks were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the agreement, Fianna Fail's Micheál Martin will become prime minister for the first half of a five-year term and hand back to outgoing Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Fine Gael in December 2022.

Mr. Martin’s new Cabinet is expected to meet Saturday evening. He will also appoint members of the country’s upper house of parliament or Seanad.

For decades both parties have been the dominant forces in Irish politics, and have their roots in Ireland's 1920s civil war.

This is the first time, however, they will share power.

Mr. Martin will become the country’s 15th Taoiseach