Haughey Wins but Falls 3 Seats Short of a Majority in Ireland

Opposition leader Charles J. Haughey won a shaky election mandate to lead Ireland’s next government, but final vote results showed Thursday that he is three seats short of a parliamentary majority.

Analysts warned that his narrow victory over Prime Minister Garret FitzGerald in Tuesday’s election could paralyze his efforts to fight the nation’s 19% unemployment rate and raised the prospect of another general election within a year.

One result still was undecided Thursday night but since the contest was between two Fine Gael (United Ireland) Party candidates, the composition of the new Parliament was clear.

12 Seats for Labor

Haughey’s Fianna Fail (Republican) Party won 81 seats--three short of an overall majority. FitzGerald’s Fine Gael was assured 51 seats, the center-right Progressive Democrats won 14, the Labor Party 12 and other smaller parties and independents 8.

The Speaker’s seat in the 166-seat Parliament was not contested.

Fianna Fail gained 10 seats. Fine Gael lost 17 and the Labor Party, which shared in a coalition with FitzGerald, lost two.

The Progressive Democratic Party--formed 15 months ago--picked up nine additional seats. Politicians said its strong performance changed the face of Irish politics, creating a third force in a parliament traditionally dominated by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Appeal for Consensus

Haughey conceded he will have to rely on the support of independents and appealed for a national consensus to fight Ireland’s worst economic crisis in 65 years.

But he expressed confidence that his government would be able to stay in office for a full five-year term.

“I intend my government to run its full course,” said the 61-year-old politician, who has been prime minister twice.

Parliament reassembles March 10 when it will formally vote confidence in Haughey’s government. In the meantime, he will have to engage in back-room bargaining to line up support from outside his party.

FitzGerald has pledged he will support his longtime rivals in “constructive action . . . even if that means supporting them in difficult and unpopular decisions.”

But FitzGerald warned Haughey “not to go up side alleys” and not to attempt to renegotiate the 1985 Anglo-Irish agreement giving Dublin a consultative role in Northern Ireland’s affairs.

Haughey has said he will honor the pact.