On Tuesday, Simon Harris, the Prime Minister of Ireland, officially revealed his intention to call a general election by the end of the week, putting an end to months of speculation regarding its timing. In Ireland, the law requires only 18 days’ notice before a general election can be announced, with polling typically occurring on a Thursday or Friday. Many political analysts are forecasting that the election will take place by the end of this month.

“I do intend to seek a dissolution of the Dáil this week,” Mr. Harris stated to reporters gathered outside government buildings. He added, “I don’t think that will come as a shock to any person right across this country.” The election must occur before March 2025, marking the end of the government’s five-year term; however, Mr. Harris had previously indicated that he aimed to hold the vote before the year concludes.

His center-right party, Fine Gael, has seen a resurgence in support after facing challenges in opinion polls earlier this year. At just 38 years old, Mr. Harris is the youngest Taoiseach, or Prime Minister, in Irish history, having taken the reins of Fine Gael from Leo Varadkar just six months ago. Mr. Varadkar’s unexpected resignation in March came amid declining support for the party, with many political analysts suggesting he recognized the necessity for new leadership as the party approached the upcoming election.

• Many observers had anticipated that Sinn Féin, the left-wing nationalist party, which won the popular vote in the 2020 election, could potentially secure enough seats to form a majority government in the next election.
• Support for traditional parties has been waning, driven by a cost-of-living crisis and a dire housing shortage that has elicited widespread criticism of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who formed an unlikely coalition alongside the Green Party after the 2020 general election.

While Sinn Féin experienced a surge in support during the 2020 elections, it ultimately fell short of winning enough seats to take power. The party has spent decades marginalized from mainstream Irish politics due to its historical connections to sectarian violence as the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army. Nonetheless, in recent years, it has emerged as a viable alternative for many younger voters seeking to move away from the established parties.

In the brief time since Mr. Harris assumed leadership, Fine Gael’s political landscape has shifted from a period of diminished influence to a more favorable position. The most recent opinion poll conducted by the Sunday Independent indicates Fine Gael leading with 26 percent support, followed by Fianna Fáil at 20 percent, while Sinn Féin’s popularity has slipped to 18 percent.