A former Fine Gael strategist has claimed that “populist” Fianna Fáil would not make a suitable coalition partner.
Frank Flannery was speaking amid growing speculation about potential pacts in the run-up to the Republic’s general election, which is set to take place by next spring.
Mr Flannery, who supports a deal with the Labour Party, claimed that Fianna Fáil, traditionally Fine Gael’s greatest rival, was returning to “its old populist ways”.
He said a programme for government with Labour would offer stability and real progress, warning it would be a “disaster” if “unstable and insecure” politics emerged after the election.
Separately, justice minister Frances Fitzgerald said while there were no discussions going on between the government partners, her “preference” would be to continue the coalition.
However, tánaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton said it was too early to discuss a pact, describing the parties’ current arrangement as a “marriage of convenience” that had worked well since the 2011 election.
