Ireland crisis: Ruling coalition partner urges election

[T_i_B]

Source: BBC

The junior partner in the Irish Republic's governing coalition has called for a general election in January, after an EU-led bailout of the country's ailing economy. The Green Party said the Irish people needed "political certainty".

The government has accepted up to 90bn euros (£77bn; $124bn) of EU-led loans and will publish a four-year budget plan on Wednesday.

The Greens, with six lawmakers, hold the balance of power. Even with Green Party support, the government of Prime Minister Brian Cowen has just a three-seat majority in parliament and faces a by-election in one of those seats on Thursday.

In a statement, Green Party leader John Gormley did not say the party was pulling out of the coalition but he made a number of demands and said a general election date should be set for the second half of January.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11811384

[hedgehog]

1. I'll see your BBC and raise you RTE!

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1122/politics.html

;-)