The tally of first preferences indicates that People Before Profit Dublin Central candidate, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin has increased his share of the vote from 4.5% at the last general election to 6.7% in the by-election.
The Government parties have been heavily defeated, with Fianna Fáil slumping to its lowest Dáil vote on record. It is also the lowest combined vote that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ever got in a by-election.
Ó Ceannabháin called on the left parties to commit not to resuscitate Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael through coalition after the next general election.
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin said:
“I’m delighted with the vote we have achieved in this by-election. People Before Profit has increased our vote share by half since the general election and we will be a serious contender for a seat at the next general election.
“In our people-powered campaign across the constituency, we set out a radical vision for action on housing and the cost of living, for the defence of our neutrality and for solidarity with Palestine.
“We also campaigned for working class unity against the hate-mongering of the far right and the nasty attempts by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to divide people and divert them from their failures.
“Central to our campaign was building opposition to Dublin City Council’s rent hikes. We worked closely with tenants in the inner city and this has real people power momentum that will build in the months ahead to demand a reversal of the Council rent hikes.
“Today the Government parties have received the electoral drubbing they richly deserve. The left vote in Dublin Central is about 60%, and the mood for a left government and the end of more than a century of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government is overwhelming.
“A left government is now within our reach at the next general election. To make it happen it is essential that the left parties rule out entering a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. They are in rapid decline and the left must not resuscitate them through coalition.”