Green Party candidate Roderic O’Gorman won the closely fought last seat in Dublin West beating Solidarity People Before Profit’s Ruth Coppinger and former táinaiste Joan Burton who lost their seats.
Paying tribute to Coppinger and Burton, Mr O’Gorman said they had a “massive impact both locally and on national politics and despite my own happiness it’s a real sadness to see them both lose their seat”.
roderic o'gorman kissing his partner took me so off guard that i actually cried bc i am a dumb queer person and love soft lgbt moments
— shrimpina 🦐 (@mattgothson) February 9, 2020
On his victory in the sixth and final count, Mr O’Gorman embraced his long-term partner Ray Healy.
The Green Party’s Roderic O’Gorman lectures at the Brexit Institute and School of Law and Government in DCU where he specialises in EU, climate change and planning law.
Solidarity-People Before Profit’s Ruth Coppinger said losing her seat was not completely unexpected.
She told Morning Ireland that the party knew there would be a huge surge in voters choosing Sinn Féin and the Green Party.
Coppinger remains hopeful that the rest of her colleagues awaiting seats will be successful.
“Obviously I was a strong advocate for women’s rights” and played a role in the Repeal vote, she said.
Coppinger said she is in favour of a left coalition Government that doesn’t involve Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Coppinger said she will say in politics and always fight for a better society.
“I remain a socialist activist and being a TD was a phase of that.”
Nationally, there has been a Sinn Féin surge with them winning the first seat in almost every constituency they ran a candidate.
Huge thanks to everyone who voted Sinn Féin today. It's a tremendous honour to have earned your trust. As we await the results, we invite you to become a member of Sinn Féin at https://t.co/AvmN6N05AN and join with us as we build a new Ireland together. #GE2020 #Time4Unity pic.twitter.com/qnWFhy3NFh
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) February 8, 2020
Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said she has begun examining the possibility of forming a new government with her preferred option being a government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said Sinn Féin has “won the election and won the popular vote” but said she will speak to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar because “that’s what grown-ups do.”
"The best option is a government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil"
Sinn Féin Senator @fintanwarfield on the parties that ruled out a Sinn Féin coalition #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/p02O2Do1hD
— JOE.ie (@JOEdotie) February 9, 2020
More than half of the seats have been filled in the 33rd Dáil as counting continues across the country today.
© 2020 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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