A centre-right coalition government has been formed in Ireland, approximately six weeks after parliamentary elections.
The conservative Fianna Fáil party, which secured the most seats in the 29 November election, had entered into negotiations with the Christian Democratic Fine Gael party, with which they had previously collaborated in government.
However, combined, they were two seats short of a majority in the Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament.
Details of the new coalition have not been officially announced, but Irish media report that the two parties have gained the support of seven independent parliamentarians from the Regional Independent Group. Additionally, two other independent MPs are expected to back the coalition.
The new government will be led by Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil. Martin served as prime minister from June 2022 to December 2022, and was then succeeded by Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, as per the coalition agreement.
The new government will officially begin after a confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday, 22 January.
