Micheal Martin was elected Irish prime minister by the country's parliament on Thursday after a group of independent lawmakers joined his coalition in voting for him. The leader of the Fianna Fail party already served as prime minister from 2020 to 2022, after which he took up the positions of foreign and defense minister.
"I believe in the good faith of those who seek to serve their communities in elective office - and I believe that politics remains a force for good, a force for positive change," Martin said. He added that Ireland's relationship with the United States is based on "respect and cooperation" but noted his government is "not naive about the realities of change," referring to the reelection of US President Donald Trump. He also said Ireland will launch a "new systematic approach to consultation and cooperation" with the United Kingdom.
