1987 Irish general election

1987 Irish general election

← Nov 1982 17 February 1987 1989 →
← outgoing members elected members →
166 seats in Dáil Éireann[a] 84 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	73.3% 0.4pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Charles Haughey Garret FitzGerald Desmond O'Malley Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Progressive Democrats Leader since 7 December 1979 1977 21 December 1985 Leader's seat Dublin North-Central Dublin South-East Limerick East Last election 75 seats, 45.2% 70 seats, 39.2% New party Seats before 71 69 5 Seats won 81 51[a] 14 Seat change 6 19 14 Popular vote 784,547 481,127 210,583 Percentage 44.2% 27.1% 11.9% Swing 1.0% 12.1% New party   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   DSP Leader Dick Spring Tomás Mac Giolla Jim Kemmy Party Labour Workers' Party Democratic Socialist Leader since November 1982 1977 1982 Leader's seat Kerry North Dublin West Limerick East Last election 16 seats, 9.4% 2 seats, 3.3% 0 seats, 0.4% Seats before 16 2 0 Seats won 12 4 1 Seat change 4 2 1 Popular vote 114,551 67,293 7,424 Percentage 6.5% 3.8% 0.4% Swing 2.9% 0.5%
Election results and first-preference votes in each constituency. Number of seats gained by each party in each constituency.
Taoiseach before election Garret FitzGerald Fine Gael Taoiseach after election Charles Haughey Fianna Fáil

The 1987 Irish general election to the 25th Dáil was held on Tuesday, 17 February, four weeks after the dissolution of the 24th Dáil on 20 January by President Patrick Hillery, on the request of Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald. A continuing crisis over public finance and a rejection of the budget had led to the Labour Party withdrawing from the Fine Gael–led coalition government. The general election took place in 41 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 166 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas. There were minor amendments to constituency boundaries under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1983.

The 25th Dáil met at Leinster House on 10 March to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. Charles Haughey was appointed Taoiseach, forming the 20th government of Ireland, a minority single-party Fianna Fáil government.

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