By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries

DUBLIN (Reuters) – Micheál Martin was elected Ireland’s prime minister for a second term in a coalition of two major centre-right parties and independent lawmakers on Thursday, a day later than scheduled after the opposition protests derailed an initial vote.

The coalition is the second in a row between historic rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, who between them have led every government since the formation of the state, with independents replacing junior coalition partner Green Party, which lost most of its seats.

The first scheduled vote to elect Martin on Wednesday descended into chaos when parliament was suspended four times following opposition protests over speaking rights for independent lawmakers who support the future coalition.

An agreement between the two sides that independents who currently support the government cannot retain extended speaking rights from the opposition benches paved the way for Martin to be elected.

Martin, 64, was prime minister from 2020-2022 before handing the post to Fine Gael for the second half of the term. Under the agreement reached after the November 29 election, outgoing prime minister Simon Harris is set to return as premier in late 2027.

Harris will replace Martin as deputy prime minister and is also likely to take over as foreign minister later on Wednesday while Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe, chair of the group of euro zone finance ministers, is slated to return as finance minister.

The government is bracing for the fallout from the return to the White House of US President Donald Trump, whose promises to cut corporate tax rules and impose tariffs pose a potentially huge threat to foreign multinationals that have -focus economy in Ireland.

The coalition has pledged to use tax revenues from US multinationals in the country to further increase public sector investment, fix infrastructure deficits and cut taxes, while also building up sovereign wealth funds. in Ireland.

Martin, who was first elected to parliament 36 years ago, was a senior member of the Fianna Fail government that signed off on an EU/IMF bailout in 2010 and led to an unprecedented electoral collapse. in 2011 after his tenure as leader.

The former history teacher, who has held several senior ministries including health, trade and education, led a quick turnaround in the party’s fortunes to return it to government nine years ago.