Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin tie in General Election 2020

Sinn Féin made surprise gains in Saturday's Irish General Election getting 25% of first preference votes, however due to the lower number of candidates it missed out on the highest number of seats in the next Dail (Parliament) with Fianna Fáil getting 38 seats just one above Sinn Féin. Fine Gael lost 12 seats to come third with just 35 seats. The Greens were the other big winners with 12 seats, Labour lost one seat while the Social Democrats gained 4.

The Irish public went to the pools on Saturday February 8th 2020. A shaky Fine Gael minority government was under attack from the public for its policies on housing and homelessness.

It's strategy on keeping Ireland in save hands through Brexit failed to make an impact on voters.

The exit poll for RTÉ, TG4, UCD and The Irish Times called it a tie for the 3 biggest parties at 22%, followed by The Green party at 8%.

Sinn Féin largely failed to gain a higher number of seats due to its decision to only run 42 candidates across 38 constituencies, just 5 of their candidates failed to make it to the Dáil.

The two biggest parties were placed in 2nd and 3rd place, but Fianna Fáil were just able to gain enough transfers to see it get 37 seats, one more than Sinn Féin.

Fine Gael again lost more seats bring their number down to 35.

The Leader of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, has insisted her priority is to now form a government with other left leaning parties, and that she is determined not to enter a coalition with either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.

The other left leaning parties include The Green Party with 12 seats, The Labour Party with 6 seats, the Social Democrats with 6 seats, People Before Profit with 5 seats and Independents for Change with 1 seat. Bringing the total to 67, 14 shy of a majority. Independents and other parties took 20 seats, but many of those independents broke away from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Together Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have 73 seats, just 8 shy of a majority.

On Feburary 20th it will become more clear if Mary Lou McDonald with become Ireland's first Female Taoiseach or Ireland's first Female leader of the Opposition.