Bertie Ahern says left-leaning parties 'are wasting their time' if they don't form a coalition

Mr. Ahern highlighted that if left parties remain separate, they hinder their chances of forming a successful alliance, suggesting a collective approach could yield better electoral results.

He predicted that the upcoming election will focus on which parties, including Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, will negotiate partnerships following the polls.

Ahern expressed sympathy for Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, acknowledging the challenges she faced and attributing the party's recent loss of momentum to the rise of far-right movements.

He observed that the recent riots illustrated a disconnect between Sinn Féin and public sentiment, causing electoral support to shift towards the far-right.

Read at Irish Independent