Change-over in Eire
The end of the domination of the Fianna Fail party in Eire is more conclusive than the creation of the coalition which now assumes office. Mr. de Valera has not been a dictator ; all the forms of Parliamentary government have been faithfully observed ; but he has been an imperious leader and his party was never disposed to challenge his decisions. The recent general election was of his own choosing, and he was credited with the determination to appeal to the country again if he did not come back with a working majority. The possibility that he might be denied the opportunity, as he has been, was not allowed for. But the political prospect must be regarded as obscure. The coalition now formed under Mr. Costello has no basis of cohesion except a common opposition to Fianna Fail, and it remains to be seen whether that is more effective than the opposition of its different elements to one another. The new Prime Minister himself is a man of ability,
and if he can evolve a national policy calculated to promote Eire's economic welfare he may be able to direct the government longer than at first sight seems possible. Mr. MacBride's new Clann na Poblachta party did worse at the polls than it had hoped, and its leader may be well content to consolidate the positions allotted to himself and one colleague inalhe Cabinet. How long the Labour Party, whose support is essential, will be content to coalesce with other sections standing much further to the Right is problematic. Eire is fortunate, in any case, in having no external problems to cause anxiety. There is no danger that relations with Great Britain will be less harmonious under the new regime than under the old.
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