This chapter outlines the background to the election. It surveys the main developments of the period 2020–24, covering the lifetime of the historic Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Green coalition government. The government was formed in exceptional circumstances during the Covid-19 pandemic and, despite two early ministerial resignations, functioned relatively smoothly during its lifetime. It was the first time Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the two parties that had dominated the state since its foundation, governed in coalition. One of its main features was the introduction of the concept of ‘rotating Taoiseach’ under which, halfway through the government’s tenure, Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin gave way to Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar. The government was rocked by the unexpected resignation of Varadkar, as Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, in April 2024 just weeks after it had decisively lost two referendums on family and care. Party competition was fierce during these four and a half years and saw Sinn Féin surge significantly ahead in opinion polls before fading throughout 2024. By the time the election was called nobody could be sure what its outcome would be given the volatility of the electorate.