THE INTERNATIONAL REACTION to Ireland’s general election has largely focused on the “crushing defeat” that has been inflicted on the outgoing government of Fianna Fáil.

The Observer/Guardian says the elections mark a “sea change in Irish politics” with the damage inflicted on Fianna Fáil worse than that inflicted on the UK Conservative party in the 1997 election in which Tony Blair and his Labour party were elected to power.

The paper notes that in Dublin Central, once the stronghold of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, it was Fine Gael’s candidate Pascal Donohue who topped the poll.

Ireland’s new government is headed for confrontation with the EU, according to The Sunday Telegraph, which says the poll result is a popular backlash against the EU/IMF bailout.

The New York Times says Ireland has ousted its “discredited government” with it noting the considerable doubt about Ireland and the new government’s ability to repay the bailout that “humiliated” the country.

The election was a “crushing defeat” for Fianna Fáil reports France’s Le Monde newspaper (French) which notes that the new government will be focusing on renogotiation of the interest rate on the EU/IMF bailout.

The renegotiation of the bailout by the new government is also the focus of Spain’s El Pais newspaper (Spanish) which notes that the next Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the support conditions are “bad for us and bad for Europe.”

The BBC’s correspondent in Ireland says that the result is a “seismic change” but that the new government will have no option but to continue with the austerity measures introduced by the former administration.