MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ireland's Fine Gael party ministers have started talks with independent members of parliament over forming a minority coalition government, local media said Monday.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, Ireland's leading parties, have been locked in talks on forming a minority government after both gained around a quarter of the total vote in February's general election. On Friday, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail reached a framework agreement to facilitate a coalition government that would leave Fianna Fail in opposition.
The first round of talks between six members of the Independent Alliance and Fine Gael is due to take place later on Monday, the RTE public broadcaster reported.
A deal on issues including health service provisions, mortgage arrears, as well as agricultural and rural problems is expected to be reached by Thursday, with the independents stressing that the provision of cardiac services in Ireland's South East is key to their participation in government, according to the media outlet.
After the February 26 general election, Fine Gael lost 17 parliament seats, finishing with 49 seats. Its main rival, the Republican Fianna Fail party, more than doubled its seat count from 21 to 44. The Labour Party faced a crushing defeat, seeing its mandates drop from 37 five years ago to six.
