1973 Irish general election

1973 Irish general election

← 1969 28 February 1973 1977 →
← outgoing members elected members →
144 seats in Dáil Éireann[a] 73 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	76.6% 0.3pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Jack Lynch Liam Cosgrave Brendan Corish Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Labour Leader since 9 November 1966 21 April 1965 2 March 1960 Leader's seat Cork City North-West Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown Wexford Last election 75 seats, 45.7% 50 seats, 34.1% 18 seats, 17.0% Seats before 73 50 17 Seats won 69 54 19 Seat change 6 4 1 Percentage 46.2% 35.1% 13.7% Swing 0.5% 1.0% 3.3%
Percentage of seats gained by each of the three major parties, and number of seats gained by smaller parties and independents.
Taoiseach before election Jack Lynch Fianna Fáil Taoiseach after election Liam Cosgrave Fine Gael

The 1973 Irish general election to the 20th Dáil was held on Wednesday, 28 February 1973, following the dissolution of the 19th Dáil on 5 February by President Éamon de Valera on the request of Taoiseach Jack Lynch. The general election took place in 42 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 144 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas.

The 20th Dáil met at Leinster House on 4 March to nominate the Taoiseach for appointment by the president and to approve the appointment of a new government of Ireland. Liam Cosgrave was appointed Taoiseach, forming the 14th government of Ireland, a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

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