Voting begins in uncertain Irish election

DUBLIN

More than three million voters in Ireland went to the polls on Friday morning as the public delivered its verdict on five years of austerity.

Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s liberal Fine Gael Party could emerge as the largest party in Ireland’s parliament but struggle to form a government in one of the most unpredictable elections in Irish history.

The Labour Party, Kenny’s coalition partners, appeared likely to suffer heavy losses with the center-right Fianna Fail and nationalist Sinn Fein both expected to make gains.

There were fears of a result similar to the uncertain outcome in Spain, where a government has still not been formed two months after an election that gave no party a majority.

Polls will be open until 2200 GMT with the vote count due to commence the following morning. The result is expected later on Saturday.

In an unusual move, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron appeared to issue an eleventh-hour endorsement of Kenny’s re-election.

The Irish Independent reported Cameron sent Kenny a letter on Thursday evening saying he is “profoundly grateful” for his support in Britain’s recent Brexit negotiations.

In a personal note at the end he said, “My very best wishes for tomorrow’s elections” before adding a handwritten note “Good luck!”

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams tweeted a photograph of the newspaper on Friday with the remark: “If U ever had any doubts this shud wake U up 2 the importance of ur vote.”