Centre-Right Parties Lead as Ireland Faces Coalition Government

In Ireland's general election, the centrist government parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, are set to retain power, defying global election trends. Fianna Fáil's Michéal Martin is the frontrunner for taoiseach, with his party winning the most first preference votes. Sinn Féin, which had hoped to become the largest party, came third. The two main parties are expected to form a coalition with smaller center-left parties. Meanwhile, controversial independent candidate Gerry Hutch lost his bid for a seat in Dublin Central.