Dublin [Ireland], November 29: Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris has said he wants the public to consider who will form a "stable government" when they are voting, asking whether the country would want to have "50 or 60" independent lawmakers (TDs) in the lower house, or Dail.
Harris said it is not his place to tell people who to transfer their vote to but urged them to consider the make-up of the government after the election.
The public will go to the polls on Friday, and decide the political landscape for the next few years.
Speaking to the PA news agency on Thursday, Harris said: "The point I am making is ... of course I am asking people to vote for my party, to vote Fine Gael, and in the areas where we are running more than one candidate to continue your vote for the rest of the Fine Gael candidates.
"But I am also very conscious that, when the election is over, whatever people decide is the decision, it is important that a stable government can be formed, and I have been making the point to people that my party has shown the ability to work well with other parties and I'm hoping that people would transfer their votes to other parties.
"There has been many good independent TDs in this country - I don't make a pejorative comment at all in relation to any independent TD - but I do make the point, do we want to make up the Dail with 40 or 50, 60 independent TDs and how do we form a stable government if that is the backdrop?
"That is very much the point I am making. I am not going to tell people - it is not my place - as to who to transfer to, but I would hope people would consider, in their vote, who you would form a government at the end of all of this."
The latest opinion poll ahead of Friday's general election shows the country's three largest parties remain in a tight race.
Source: Qatar Tribune