alternatehistory.com

Ireland's two largest parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are both right of centre parties in Ireland's multiparty system. They are the main opponents on the political spectrum; they are as unlikely to form a grand coalition with each as the Labour and Conservative parties are in the United Kingdom. They have formed coalitions with third parties, but generally don't govern in coalition with each other.
Why didn't Ireland's proportional electoral system produce a system like that of Germany, which is a multiparty system but centered on a centre left SPD and a Centre Right CDU?
Was is solely because the Republic Ireland has historically had a small urban proletariat - and thus a small Labour party?
Or was the civil war the sole reason for there being two right of centre parties?
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