Under threat of Trump, Michelle Martin returned as the Prime Minister of Ireland, according to Reuters

By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries

DUBLIN (Reuters) – Michelle Martin was elected Irish prime minister for a second term by a coalition of the country’s two largest centre-right parties and independent lawmakers on Thursday.

The coalition is the second in a row between historic rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who have led each government since the formation of the state, with the independents replacing their junior coalition partner, the Green Party, which lost most of its seats.

A planned vote to elect Martin on Wednesday descended into chaos when parliament was suspended four times.

An agreement by both parties that state-backed independents could no longer retain extended free speech from the opposition benches paved the way for Martin’s election.

Martin, 64, was Prime Minister from 2020-2022 before handing over the post to Fine Gael for the second half of his term. Outgoing Prime Minister Simon Harris is set to return as Prime Minister at the end of 2027, according to an agreement made following the November 29 election.

Harris will replace Martin as deputy prime minister and may take over as foreign minister later on Wednesday, with Fingel Pascal Donohoe, chairman of the eurozone group of finance ministers, expected to return as finance minister.

President Donald Trump’s return to the White House is fueling the government’s collapse, with promises to slash corporate tax laws and impose tariffs posing a major threat to Ireland’s foreign-focused economy.

The coalition has pledged to build Ireland’s sovereign wealth fund to boost public sector investment, fix infrastructure shortfalls and take advantage of the country’s US multinational tax windfall to continue taxing.

Martin, who was first elected to parliament 36 years ago, was a senior member of the Fianna Fail government that signed the EU/IMF bailout in 2010 and led to an unprecedented 2011 election defeat after taking over the leadership.

The former history teacher, who has held several top ministries including health, commerce and education, led a swift recovery of the party’s fortunes to return to government after nine years.