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Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald has blasted \u201carrogant\u201d political rivals for denying her party a place in the next Government.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald has blasted \u201carrogant\u201d political rivals for denying her party a place in the next Government.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il has ruled out entering a coalition with the left-leaning group because of historic links to the IRA and wide policy differences over issues like how to run the economy.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in emerged as the party with the largest first preference vote. It did not field enough candidates to fully capitalize on a wave of support inspired by discontent over problems in the health service and access to housing.<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said: \u201cThe political establishment of Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are circling the wagons in defense of a status quo that will not deliver the change citizens voted for last weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
She addressed a party meeting in Belfast on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in topped the first preference poll following the General Election.<\/p>\n
Its total of 37 seats is one fewer than that of Fianna F\u00e1il.<\/p>\n
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar\u2019s Fine Gael won 35 seats.<\/p>\n
No single party has enough seats to govern and Sinn F\u00e9in appears to have failed to muster enough support from a coalition of small left-leaning parties and independent members of the new D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said the public had given her party a chance to show it can improve their lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cA chance to show that will we honor our commitments.<\/p>\n
\u201cA chance to shape a government that will finally do right by ordinary people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want a government for change.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that was why Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael were \u2013 and are \u2013 so determined to keep Sinn F\u00e9in out of government.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause they don\u2019t want change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why they said they wouldn\u2019t talk to us.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it now seems that Miche\u00e1l Martin\u2019s plan is to deny the people what they voted for.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is an arrogant and untenable position, given the strength of Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s mandate.\u201d<\/p>\n