Irish general election, 1997

Irish general election, 1997

← 1992 6 June 1997 2002 →
← outgoing members TDs elected →
165 of 166 seats in Dáil Éireann 84 seats were needed for a majority
Turnout	76.5%
First party Second party Third party   Leader Bertie Ahern John Bruton Dick Spring Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Party Leader since 19 December 1994 20 November 1990 November 1982 Leader's seat Dublin Central Meath Kerry North Last election 68 seats, 39.1% 45 seats, 24.5% 33 seats, 19.9% Seats before 67 47 32 Seats won 77 54 17 Seat change 10 7 15 Popular vote 703,700 499,900 186,000 Percentage 39.3% 27.9% 10.4% Swing 0.2% 3.4% 8.9%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Mary Harney Proinsias De Rossa — Party Progressive Democrats Democratic Left Green Party Leader since 12 October 1993 1992 — Leader's seat Dublin South-West Dublin North-West — Last election 10 seats, 4.7% 4 seats, 2.8% 1 seat, 1.4% Seats before 9 6 1 Seats won 4 4 2 Seat change 5 2 1 Popular vote 83,800 44,900 49,300 Percentage 4.7% 2.5% 2.8% Swing 0.0% 0.3% 1.4%
Percentage of seats gained by each of the three major parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.
Taoiseach before election John Bruton Fine Gael Subsequent Taoiseach Bertie Ahern Fianna Fáil

John Bruton
Fine Gael

Bertie Ahern
Fianna Fáil

The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.

The general election took place in 41 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 165 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann.

The 1997 general election saw the public offered a choice of two possible coalitions. The existing government was a coalition of Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Democratic Left – the so-called "Rainbow Coalition". This in very broad terms could be described as a centre-left coalition. It was opposed by a possible coalition of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, which most Irish commentators regarded as a centre-right coalition.

Following the election none of the major parties had a clear majority. Negotiations resulted in a Fianna Fáil–Progressive Democrats coalition taking office. Four Independent Teachta Dála (TDs) also supported the government ensuring an overall majority. Bertie Ahern became the Taoiseach while Mary Harney of the Progressive Democrats became Tánaiste.

Although Fine Gael gained seats, it crossed the Dáil chamber to the Opposition benches. Fianna Fáil also increased its representation, but the Progressive Democrats had a disastrous election, losing more than half their seats – including ones thought safe such as Cork North-Central and Dún Laoghaire, despite no decrease in their vote. The Green Party picked up an extra seat, with John Gormley elected in Dublin South-East. He was elected by just over 30 votes after a marathon recount, lasting four days, saw Progressive Democrat Michael McDowell defeated. The main feature of the election, however, was the collapse of the Labour Party vote. Not only did it lose seats it had picked up in the 1992 general election, when its vote was an at all-time high – such as in Clare and Laois–Offaly – but it also lost reasonably safe seats, such as in Dublin North, Dublin Central and Cork South-Central.