Cowen stays as Irish PM, challenger Martin quits

AFP/Dublin

Cowen survived a confidence vote at a meeting of his Fianna Fail party late Tuesday by a margin of 2-1, a lawmaker said, after which the premier vowed to focus on a general election expected in late March.

The secret ballot was sparked by foreign minister Micheal Martin’s calls for a new leader and his criticism of Cowen’s handling of the bailout in November by the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Martin resigned after the vote result, and Cowen told parliament yesterday that this resignation had been accepted.

The 51-year-old premier, who was foreign minister from January 2000 to September 2004, said he would take over Martin’s brief "for the time being”.

There is speculation that Martin’s departure could spark a wider cabinet reshuffle, with Cowen reportedly considering promoting younger lawmakers whose seats may be at risk in the election.

The justice, transport and defence ministers have said they will not be standing for election again and they could be replaced.

Fianna Fail is expected to take a major hit from voters angry at its handling of the financial crisis that left the once-roaring "Celtic Tiger” economy crippled with debt and reliant on international help.

But Cowen has insisted they are ready to fight the general election, despite recording opinion poll ratings of as low as 14%.

"The party is very determined to face into the electoral contest,” he said following the vote results late Tuesday, adding that Fianna Fail’s plans to help the economy would convince voters.

Cowen continued: "We have been fighting for this country... for its very survival, for its sustainability against one of the greatest economic and financial crises we have seen in over 80 years.”

Despite his resignation, Martin backed the premier, saying that Fianna Fail would go into the election "as a united party behind our leader.”

The party refused to give a breakdown of the results of the confidence vote, which followed a three-hour meeting, but former deputy leader Mary O’Rourke said on Twitter that it "was 2-1 in favour of Brian Cowen”.

Cowen called the vote at the weekend amid mounting criticism of his leadership following Ireland’s acceptance of an international bailout.

Ireland was the second eurozone country after Greece to accept help, agreeing to a package to which the IMF and the EU will contribute 67bn euros ($90bn).

Cowen has also faced allegations that he is too close to the disgraced boss of the nationalised Anglo Irish Bank, which has become a symbol of the bad debts amassed by the country’s banks.

Martin, 50, said he was moved to challenge Cowen because of his handling of the bailout, telling RTE radio: "The management of the IMF, the presentation of the IMF coming into the country, that to me was a watershed moment.”

He said he had discussed resigning with Cowen last weekend but it was agreed a move then "might have a destabilising impact on the government.”

Cowen survived with the support of Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, a cabinet heavyweight, but commentators said his troubles are far from over.

"The sword still hangs over him on a frayed string and, like his party, it is unimaginable that he will not face his day of reckoning,” said an editorial in the Irish Examiner.

The Irish Times added: "The whole sorry episode resolves nothing.

"At this stage, the public is so angry and disillusioned by economic mismanagement and the shenanigans of government ministers that it doesn’t really care who leads Fianna Fail. People just want an early general election.”