Irish and Spanish Elections 2007

Ireland: Read Graham’s comments below and the Labour website. The latest from Irish Times [i.e. social democracy is not winning in Ireland yet]:

”A third coalition in a row between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, supported by a group of Independents, has emerged as the favoured option of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.”

Analysis à la The Economist here. Seems like Bertie managed to do what Göran Persson should have done [i.e. ”I am not tired and think of your wallet when you vote”].

Spain: A very mixed result, here is a summary from the ”Spanish news site in English”, Typically Spanish. Does anyone know of a progressive (i.e. social democrat) Spanish blogger who writes in English?

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Today was a grey and cold day in Stockholm, and it is Monday as well. After a cold bike ride to work, I found this YouTube clip: Jesse Malin and Bruce Springsteen singing ”Broken Radio”. Warmed me up a bit.

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And this modern age is weird. As I post this my friend Henrik calls me – from a Jesse Malin concert – in Belgium! I think he got me a signed CD.

Irish election 2007

The election in Ireland was completed yesterday and they started counting the votes this morning. The first exit poll was not good for Labour and the alliance FG/Labour/Greens (see below).

IrishElection.com and Politics.ie are good sites if you want to follow the developments.

EXIT POLL: Margin of error 2.5%

Fianna Fail on 41.6% almost = to 2002

Fine Gael up 4% to 26.3%

Labour 9.9% down 1%

PDs down to 2.6%

Greens at 4.8% up 1%

Sinn Fein 7.3% up1%

Indp 7.5%

So, looks like defeat right now: FF/PD 44% -v- FG/Lab/Green 41%

[Thanks for the photo Rhonda]