FINE GAEL TDs are due to meet today to discuss potentially forming a new government with Fianna Fáil following last week's inconclusive general election.
Members of Leo Varadkar's party are still picking up the pieces after what was one of Fine Gael's worst performances at the polls in their history.
They only managed to secure 35 seats, and in doing so finished as the third-most popular party in the country, behind Fianna Fáil (38 seats) and Sinn Fein (37).
However, because no party was able to get the 80 seats needed for a majority, discussions are now underway between party leaders to see if a coalition government can be formed.
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 09: Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar celebrates with his sister Sonia (R) after being elected on February 9, 2020 in Dublin, Ireland.Varadkar has stressed numerous times that he isn't prepared to deal with Sinn Fein, but has never ruled out doing one with Michael and Martin and Fianna Fáil - which, at the moment, appears to be the party's only viable route back into government.
Despite this, party chairperson Martin Heydon said that Fine Gael was "uneasy" about doing a deal with FF.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a coalition between the two wouldn't be enough to form a government, as they still wouldn't have the 80 seats needed for a majority, so they'd likely have to enlist help from another party and likely a number of independents too.
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics on Sunday, former Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern said he "wouldn’t put too much money" on the two parties securing a deal.
There's also concern amongst Fine Gael members that their poor election performance means they should regroup as a party, with many TDs reportedly preparing to work as opposition.
