Ahern: "peace is crucial"

Ahern Starts to Form a New Irish Government

His is now the largest single party in parliament, but he'll need the support of other smaller parties to lead a majority government.

Fianna Fail, and its ally, the Progressive Democrats, have won 81 seats, three short of an overall majority.

The result leaves Mr Ahern needing the support of Independents and other parties to form a government when parliament returns on June 26.

Mr Ahern was expected to establish early contact with potential supporters among the now-significant rump of non-aligned members of the Dail, but sources close to the potential new premier ruled out the kind of blatant give-away deals that marked previous attempts by political figures to secure control of the Irish government.

As the horse-trading started in earnest, though, supporters of the present government pointed up the prospect of another election within a maximum of two years because of the anticipated instability of an Ahern administration with a small majority.

Peace to be Top Priority

Mr Ahern has set peace in Northern Ireland as a top priority is due to arrange a meeting with Sinn Fein, the IRA's political wing.

He said the Northern Ireland peace process had been one of the key issues set by his Fianna Fail party at the start of the election campaign.

Mr Ahern has already said he would appoint his predecessor and former premier Albert Reynolds as a special envoy for peace in Northern Ireland. "Certainly the situation will be a top priority with us. We will try to move to a position where we can get a ceasefire and then move on with the [all-party] talks on Northern Ireland - they are the crucial issue," he said.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said the change of Government in Ireland would not make much difference to the peace process.

Mr Trimble has played down Sinn Fein's success in having a candidate elected to the Dail, arguing that the Dublin government always pursued a nationalist line.

He said Albert Reynolds had had a very close relationship with Sinn Fein so the election of a Sinn Fein candidate would not change the situation drastically.

But Mr Trimble left open the question of whether he could do business with Mr Ahern.

Parliament to elect new Prime Minister

Mr Ahern cannot become prime minister until the newly-elected parliament meets for the first time on June 26.

When the new Dail assembles it will vote in the next prime minister, in line with Ireland's written constitution. Until that date, current premier John Bruton and his government remain in office.

This means that Mr Ahern will be able to meet Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams to seek a new IRA ceasefire in his present capacity as leader of the Fianna Fail opposition party.

Mr Ahern has insisted that he would not see Mr Adams or other Sinn Fein leaders as prime minister unless there was a ceasefire declaration.

Mr Ahern moved back to pole position to assume the premiership following unexpected boosts for his party from rural constituencies.

Final results

Fianna Fail 77 seats
Progressive Democrats 4 seats

Fine Gael 54 seats
Labour 17 seats
Democratic Left 4 seats

Greens 2 seats
Sinn Fein 1 seat
Independents 7 seats