The Government has taken a massive 'wallop' in the elections after hundreds of thousands of voters – the Coping Class – moved dramatically to the Left in protest at six years of biting austerity.
In what amounts to the most significant electoral shift in several decades, Independent candidates and Sinn Fein have emerged as overwhelming victors while Fianna Fail has also marginally increased its share of the vote.
While Sinn Fein has recorded a surge in support, the party is unlikely to break through the critical 20 per cent ceiling to challenge Fine Gael or Fianna Fail in the next General Election.
Independent or non-party candidates, who are expected to take a massive 28 per cent of the local elections vote, are the real winners.
As the first results began to come in last night, the overall outcome was clear: the squeezed middle has taken revenge on the mainstream parties in what is nothing short of a ballot box revolution.
Dejected Labour minister Pat Rabbitte said: "In Ireland, people don't march down Grafton Street and break windows, but by God, they vent their vengeance in the ballot box."
Stunned Government ministers were last night anxious to stress they had heard the electorate's 'enough is enough' clarion call – but with €2bn in taxes and cuts pencilled in for October's Budget, the Coalition is now facing a period of huge instability.
Irish Independent
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