Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he expects his party to return to government after the next general election.
The comments were made this week, when the Fine Gael leader was asked by a journalist if he would “stay on as party leader” if his party went into opposition following the next general election.
The Taoiseach replied that under Fine Gael party rules, he would face a motion of confidence in such a scenario, and would have to decide whether or not to fight such a motion.
“Well, look, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” the Dublin West TD said.
“But we have rules in our party, by the way. So if we’re not in a position where we’re entering government, there’s a motion of confidence – that’s the way it works. And I’d have to decide at that stage whether or not to contest it.”
However, he stressed his belief that Fine Gael will return to government following the next general election, and even increase its vote share.
“My expectation is that we will be in government,” he said.
“I believe that my party can increase its vote in the next general election to be in the mid-twenties. If we can achieve that, we will gain seats, and be in a position to form a new government, if we can find sufficient coalition partners.”
A number of veteran and younger Fine Gael TDs have announced their intention to leave politics and not contest the next general election in recent months, including Fergus O’Dowd, Charlie Flanagan, Frances Fitzgerald, Deirdre Clune, Richard Bruton, David Stanton, Joe McHugh, John Paul Phelan and Brendan Griffin.
“I think there probably will be one or two more [stepping down],” the Taoiseach said in September last year.
Some have speculated that this exodus of experienced and up-and-coming TDs could lead to significant electoral shakeup for the party.
Despite this speculation, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has consistently said that he expects the current coalition to return to power, telling Newstalk in August: “I do think there’s a very good chance that this Government could be re-elected.”
“I never put too much stock in opinion polls because they don’t predict the outcome of elections, they certainly didn’t last time and they certainly didn’t the time before.
“But you know, I think it’s fair to say that – accepting that caveat – if you look at Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael together, the two parties continue to command in and around 40% or more of the vote. It’s on those kinds of figures that governments get re-elected.”
Varadkar: ‘Good chance’ three party coalition could be re-elected.
https://t.co/4dvkyimykw— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) August 1, 2023