Analysis: Left alliance could work together as real alternative in opposition

If Holly Cairns and her expanded team of Social Democrats end up outside of government, there’s a chance that a viable left alternative could emerge if they choose to be part of it.

There’s no ignoring that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were handed a near majority last weekend, while the left actually took a hit.

Sinn Féin went up in seats because of a better candidate strategy, but were down 5% on first preferences, while the Greens were almost entirely wiped out.

The Social Democrats and Labour both doubled their seats, but their vote gain was modest and many of their seats came from their near neighbours on the political spectrum. However, this was the second election in a row where a combination of centre left parties – Sinn Féin, Labour, the Greens, and the Social Democrats- got over 60 seats and more than 30% of the total first preference vote. That’s before you bring in the myriad of radical left small parties and independents whose raison d’être is the opposition of the old Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael axis.

That is a solid base on which to build a robust and ready opposition and give voters their first viable alternative in 100 years that doesn’t include the Civil War parties.

Sinn Féin and Labour have both suggested that talks must happen between the left before a new government is formed, even if an alternative coalition is practically impossible on this occasion. But why stop there?

Following elections this summer, Nouveau Front Populaire emerged as the largest grouping in the French national assembly. Not a party in and of itself, this was a broad grouping of left-wing parties and candidates united in their opposition to a rising far right and on key issues around workers’ rights, pensions, public services, and the environment.

So, why should the talks in the Irish left stop once Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael form a cabinet?

With it looking like the Civil War parties will do a straight coalition, they are creating a golden opportunity for the rest of the Dáil to spend five years showing the public what else is possible.

That would require tough decisions and radical choices.

Instead of inter party competition, could a single shadow cabinet be built with Mary Lou McDonald as opposition leader, flanked by Ms Cairns and Ivana Bacik as the key spokespeople on major issues like health, housing, or finance?

Could the parties agree to a shared candidate strategy to maximise their collective seats without splitting the vote? And can they convince the radical left, who are unlikely to formally enter such an arrangement, to facilitate them if they needed it?

Ireland is going through a period of generational change. Old ideas about work and families are slipping away. Once stable structures like housing and healthcare are in dire straits.

The only two parties to ever lead Irish governments are only barely tipping above 40% of first preference votes between them.

If Holly Cairns, Ivana Bacik, Roderic O’Gorman and Mary Lou McDonald choose it, there is a real chance they could enter government together in five year’s time.