Ireland was braced for weeks of political uncertainty last night as voters went to the polls in one of the Republic’s closest general elections.

With a high turnout expected, Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader, was preparing to enter talks to forge a left-wing coalition to stay in power for a third term.

RTE, the state broadcaster, described turnout across the country as “slow but steady,” by mid-afternoon, with a rush expected in the evening, and polling stations closing at 10.30 pm. About 63 per cent of the electorate voted in the last election five years ago.

Counting will begin this morning and the Republic’s system of proportional representation means that the winners may not emerge until later this weekend.

Enda Kenny, the opposition Fine Gael leader, is hoping to succeed Mr Ahern and form a centre-left coalition with the Labour Party, led by Pat Rabbitte. Having repeatedly ruled out entering a coalition with Mr Ahern, Mr Rabbitte finally admitted yesterday that what pundits have been predicting for more than a week could happen; a Fianna Fail-Labour coalition government.

Mr Rabbitte said that he was keen to keep Sinn Fein out of power, hinting that he would be prepared to negotiate a deal with Fianna Fail.

“I don’t want to see Sinn Fein driving economic policies or other policies,” he said after casting his vote in his Dublin constituency.

Sinn Fein predicts that it will double the number of seats it has in the Dail, the Irish parliament, to ten, making it a contender for coalition government even though Mr Ahern has ruled out negotiations because of disagreements over economic issues.

The final poll of the three-week campaign put Fianna Fail on 38 per cent, up two points; Fine Gael on 26 per cent, down one; Labour on 11 per cent with no change; Sinn Fein on 9 per cent, down one; the Greens on 6 per cent, down two; Progressive Democrats 3 per cent, up one; and independents on 7 per cent, up one.

RTE will disclose the results of an exit poll it is conducting this morning as counting begins. More than three million people are eligible to vote. The contest involves 466 candidates fighting for 165 seats in the Dail.

“Extra people coming out will be coming out to vote for change,” said Frank Flannery, Fine Gael’s director of elections. “We could get a turnout in the high 60s. A strong vote is a vote for change.”

Mr Ahern voted near his home in north Dublin, while Mr Kenny voted in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Mr Ahern has led a coalition Government since 1997 during a period of sustained economic growth. “I’ll vote for Fianna Fail again,” said Niamh McCormack as she left work yesterday afternoon. “I voted for them last time and for me they have been all right.”

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