Irish general election looms amid economic crisis

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Monday, 22 November 2010


Ireland is to hold a general election within two months after the Green Party today stunned its Government partners by issuing a new year deadline for the vote.

Beleaguered Taoiseach Brian Cowen was dumped into a political crisis to match the economic chaos less than 24 hours after the Cabinet signed off on a multibillion bailout.

In a sensational twist, Green leader John Gormley signed the Government's death notice on day one of delicate negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Europe.

The Environment Minister demanded a general election by the second half of January as he lashed the spin machine behind the senior coalition partner Fianna Fail.

He accused strategists of last week ordering the Greens to toe an official line on how dire the Irish economic crisis had become.

more
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/irish-general-election-looms-amid-economic-crisis-2140767.html

It will be interesting to see how people vote-will they rebel against the neos?

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1. more- Backbenchers plotting to force PM Brian Cowen to resign

• Ireland's decision to seek a financial rescue package from the European Union and the IMF has sparked a political firestorm that could force the resignation of Taoiseach Brian Cowen
• Cowen is meeting with government ministers tonight to discuss the crisis (see 5.33pm)
• The Irish Green party, the junior partner in Cowen's government, have demanded a general election in January, making a vote inevitable (see 11.57am)
• Two independent members of the Irish parliament have said they will not support the budget due to be presented in December 7 (see 2.32pm and 3.10pm)
• George Osborne has said Britain will support its "friend in need", possibly with a bilateral loan. (see 4.17pm to 5.23pm) Some MPs are opposed to bailing out the euro, but it appears the UK's support will be approved if needed
• The cost of insuring Irish, Portugese, Spanish and Greek government debt rose amid the tension, as City investors anticipated a new phase of the financial crisis (see 3.35pm)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/nov/22/ireland-imf-eu-bailout

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2. kick n/t