AFP - very pugnacious Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has ended up giving his resignation Saturday of the head of his party, facing a rebellion by activists and ministers convinced of the need for a new leader to face elections at high risk of March.
This 51 year old wrestler, physically massive and legendary banter has battled to the end to remain leader of Fianna Fail (center), he led since May 2008.
But he had to give up after a week that saw political face a rebellion within the party, led by its Foreign Minister, then win a vote of confidence Tuesday at the origin of a short respite as not least six ministers resigned in the wake.
The Prime Minister announced Saturday it had decided to resign "from his own" to foster unity of the centrist party in the campaign for parliamentary elections due next March 11.
Four contenders for the office of Cowen
He leaves the formation in a sorry state: Fianna Fail, which has dominated political life in Ireland since independence, is credited with only 14% of the vote and will probably give way.
The choice of new leader could take place on Wednesday, said the Fianna Fail nomination race is already open.
Among the contenders are primarily former Foreign Minister Michael Martin, principal leader of the rebellion has been brewing for several weeks, and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.
Mary Hanafin (Tourism, Trade, Innovation) and Eamon O Cuív (Protection and Welfare) may also engage in the race to succeed.
Brian Cowen is in any event the Prime Minister, but his government faces a no confidence motion filed by the Labour Party for the next sitting of Parliament on Tuesday.
"I think we'll win this vote," Mr Cowen said Saturday, just as combative.
An atmosphere of the end of reign
His position as head of government is nonetheless become very fragile.The Prime Minister, once very popular with his penchant for Guinness and jokes, is the lowest in the polls since the financial crisis and the Irish sacrifices imposed on the population decline of unemployment benefits, minimum wages, allowances Family, refunds of drugs etc. ..
Several opposition parties have called for the immediate organization of elections. "Maintaining M.Cowen as prime minister is simply untenable, whereas his colleagues in Fianna Fail are fighting the remnants of his party, "said the leader of Labour (left) Eamon Gilmore.
Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein (left nationalist) has also called for immediate elections, saying "the government and Fianna Fail in chaos."
Brian Cowen, however, reiterated Saturday that he intended to remain at his post as prime minister until elections in March next year and "focus on government work and the implementation of the reorganization plan."
The Irish budget for 2011 represents a rigorous effort of 6 billion euros, the highest in the country's history, and is the main consideration for the bailout of 85 billion dollars developed with the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Finance Bill, the final part of drastic budget was released Friday and must be passed by Parliament before the elections, a task difficult in this atmosphere of late reign.
The ruling coalition, which brings together the Fianna Fail (center) and the Greens, after the polls may be overwhelmingly defeated by the two main opposition parties, Fine Gael (also centrist orientation) and tillage (left), which should be allies to lead the country.
