DUBLIN – Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris’ Fine Gael party has seen its lead narrow significantly ahead of the general election on Friday, according to a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll conducted late last week.
Fine Gael remains the most popular party, securing 22% of respondents’ support, a drop from 26% three weeks ago. Meanwhile, its main coalition partner, Fianna Fáil, held steady at 20%, and opposition Sinn Féin gained two points to also reach 20%.
The poll highlights a shift in voter sentiment, with Fine Gael losing momentum following Harris’ appointment as party leader in April. The Sunday Independent noted that the initial surge in support has faded amid campaign challenges.
Sinn Féin, which led polls earlier this year, faces an uphill battle as both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have pledged to form another coalition government to exclude Sinn Féin, making a decisive lead crucial for the opposition party. The election outcome could reshape Ireland’s political landscape, with all three major parties now competing in a close contest.