Fine Gael Falls to Third Place Amid Campaign Missteps

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris’ Fine Gael party has suffered a dramatic decline in public support, dropping to third place in the latest opinion polls. According to the Irish Times/Ipsos B&A survey, Fine Gael’s popularity has fallen to 19%, down from 25% just two weeks ago. The main opposition party, Fianna Fail, now leads with 21%, followed closely by Sinn Fein at 20%.

The drop follows a series of campaign blunders by Harris, including a widely shared video of him walking away from a care worker who voiced concerns about working conditions. The incident forced Harris to issue a public apology but has seemingly dented voter confidence in his leadership.

With the election just days away, speculation is rife over whether two of the three main parties can form a coalition. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have ruled out governing with Sinn Fein, raising questions about the future government’s stability.