DUBLIN – Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen set his sights Wednesday on a looming election after seeing off a leadership challenge from his foreign minister, who had criticised his handling of an EU-IMF bailout.
A majority of the 71 lawmakers from the ruling Fianna Fail party backed Cowen in a secret confidence vote on Tuesday night. Foreign Minister Micheal Martin, who had called for a new leader and criticised Cowen over his handling of the economic crisis, quit after his failed challenge but promised to continue backing the premier.
Cowen said he felt vindicated after the vote and insisted his Fianna Fail party was ready to fight a general election expected in March, despite its low level of support in polls following the bailout.
He was due to meet Wednesday with Green Party leader John Gormley, a member of Cowen’s governing coalition, to discuss a date for the poll. “The party is very determined to face into the electoral contest,” Cowen said late Tuesday, adding that Fianna Fail’s plans to help the crisis-hit Irish economy would convince voters.
The 51-year-old 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 party meeting.
Cowen called the vote at the weekend amid mounting criticism of his leadership following Ireland’s acceptance of an international bailout in November after its economy was hit hard by the global financial crisis.
