More than three-quarters of the seats have been filled in the Irish general election, following what has been a historic result for Sinn Féin.
The outcome was described as “something of a revolution in the ballot box” by the party’s leader Mary Lou McDonald.
With all first preferences counted, the left-wing republican party has taken 24.5% of the vote, compared to 22% for Fianna Fáil and 21% for Fine Gael.
No one party will win enough seats for an outright majority.
Fewer than 30 of the 160 seats are left to be declared, but negotiations to establish a government could be prolonged.
Before the election, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had ruled out forging a coalition with left-wing republican party Sinn Féin, citing its tax policies and IRA past as deterrents.
On Sunday, taoiseach (Irish PM) and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar conceded it would be “challenging” to form a government.
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