Fianna Fáil (FF) is one of the two main centrist parties in the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1926, it represents those citizens who favoured the independence of the whole of Ireland during the civil war which followed independence from the United Kingdom in 1921–22. Today the party traditionally stands for unification or co-operation with Northern Ireland, social-democratic economic and welfare policy and a traditional Catholic stance on social issues such as divorce and abortion.
Until the late 1980s FF governed as numerous single party governments, including continuously during the years 1957–73, 1977–81 and 1987–94. Traditionally the party chose to go into opposition rather than entering coalition governments. However, as a consequence of falling electoral support during the 1980s, FF has formed coalitions with parties on both the left and right. The first such coalition was with the neo-liberal Progressive Democrats (PD) in 1989–92; then FF governed with the Labour Party, in 1992–95. Following two years in opposition, FF formed a coalition with PD following the 1997 elections. The FF-PD coalition, led by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, completed a five-year term in 1997–2002, thereby becoming the longest lasting government in the history of the Republic. In the elections held on 17 May 2002 FF increased its share of the vote and the number of seats it occupied. It currently has 81 seats in the 166-seat Dáil Éireann and has entered into a second coalition with PD.
