The two parties may be forced to seek a third coalition partner to reach the 88 deputies that guarantee the majority. The Christian Democrat Simon Harris (Fine Gael) and the centrist Micheal Martin (Fianna Fáil) will reaffirm the Government coalition of the last four years in Ireland,

His more experienced coalition partner, Micheál Martin, appears best positioned to lead the next government — and insists he won’t turn left to Sinn Féin or right to anti-immigrant

Ireland goes to the polls today in a vote that looks closer than previously expected after prime minister Simon Harris lost the momentum that motivated him to call the the snap general election just three weeks ago.

Ireland's Prime Minister Simon Harris had called for snap polls earlier this month.Voting began on Friday morning in Ireland's general election amid a tight race between the incumbent coalition parties and the opposition party Sinn Fein.