Ireland's political parties were scrambling to adjust to a new reality Monday, after an earth-shaking election that saw the left-wing nationalist party Sinn Fein win the biggest share of votes.

Vote counting began Sunday with analysts forecasting that some sort of coalition is inevitable. Full results are expected in two days.

Irish voters are choosing their next prime minister in an election where frustration with economic austerity and a housing crisis have fueled the rise of Sinn Fein, still shunned by the country’s main political parties because of its links to the Irish Republican Army.