Following Mary Harney's resignation as Leader of junior coalition partner the Progressive Democrats, speculation has grown that the next leader would be either Justice Minister Michael McDowell, Liz O'Donnell or Tom Parlon. O'Donnell is probably best known for her role in the northern peace process, and Parlon claimed to have strong support on account of a large proportion of PD membership being based in his Dáil constituency.
However, reports are now emerging which suggest that O'Donnell and Parlon have pulled out of the race, leaving the way clear for McDowell to become leader. The three were involved in discussions yesterday, and it is understood they are on the verge of a deal that will avoid a split within the party.
Indications are that Liz O'Donnell has pulled out of the leadership race and that an agreement will be made over the next day (before the nominations for the leadership close tomorrow) between McDowell and Parlon. This is following stories yesterday which suggested that an agreement between McDowell and Parlon had failed to materialise. It is believed that McDowell will become leader in return for Parlon taking up McDowell's current post as party president.
McDowell has taken a hard line in his role as Justice Minister in the current coalition government, and is known for his strong opinions on the provisional republican movement. [ElBlogador.com]
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Michael McDowell To Be New Leader Of The Progressive Democrats
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
How many agents does MI6 run among Irish politicians? Zero or x-quantity? If the latter, can they get one into the office of Deputy Prime Minister? History will tell.
Mcdowell is a very able minister, and among unionists, he is well trusted, as much as they trust any political figure in the Republic.
Unfortunately, William, no-one else trusts him.
He is a master of shameless self-promotion, pomposity, arrogance and an overly right-wing stance (even by the PD's standards). Apart from the paranoid old coots in Ranelagh who vote for him, his popularity is virtually nil.
He may have some ability but this is negated by the abovementioned failings and he is not nearly as able as the lady he is replacing as PD leader. I don't like her politics but she was a fine minister.
Reg-
Do you not think that McDowell will give a strong sense of identity to his party (like it or loathe it)? I don't think anyone could disagree on his strong presence on the political circuit.
The PDs are numerically tiny- McDowell's arrival will send his party one of two ways- either they will rise to challenge Labour, or they will implode.
Which way will it go next year at the General Election?
Another issue is- what does it mean for Sinn Féin? SF tend to actually gain in the polls when the are rounded upon by the likes of McDowell. His accession to the 'throne' would traditionally have been good for SF. However, the recent SF slump has been running alongside a less anti-provo McDowell. Could it be that now SF's greatest recruitment officer (in the Margaret Thatcher/ Ian Paisley sense) has changed his tone, SF will lose out thanks to the end of his attacks on them?
I welcome McDowell and the PD's as a breathe of fresh-air in Irish politics. He does not pander to Political-Correctness and they call a spade a spade. By "right-wing" stances I assume you mean immigration well remember the public backed him on that e.g. Citizenship-Referendum and in polls on immigration-policy. The Left hates him but that's more a reflection on how out of touch they are than anything else.
On those busy writing the PD's obituary remember 2002 when the party on 2% in the polls scored 4% and doubled their seats to 8. Watch this space... ;)
Brian-
You could well be correct. Perhaps the predicted demise of the PDs is more wishful thinking on the part of those who would wish to see it happen, rather than sound analytical prediction. McDowell's place in the Dáil, which he lost in the mid-90s, is now safe. As are O'Donnell's, Parlon's and Harney's.
No better man for this post. Controversial he may be, but he appears to e straigh laced and say what he thinks. Good luck in your new position Mr McDowell
"By "right-wing" stances I assume you mean immigration"
Not really. Its more the fact that the PDs were set up as a neo-liberal, free-market party under O'Malley but that McDowell seems to prefer the authoritarian "law and order" stance more suited to certain sections of FG.
I wonder how the views of their new leader sit with the libertarian wing of the party - Parlon in particular?
"Do you not think that McDowell will give a strong sense of identity to his party (like it or loathe it)?"
I always thought that the PDs had one of the strongest senses of identity/purpose of all the parties in Irish politics from well before he became leader. I just wonder do his conservative, authoritarian instincts fit with the "traditional", neo-liberal PD supporters who may agree with him on economic matters, but little else.
Sinn Fein are deluded if they think that McDowell is expressing anything other than what most politicians (and the public) in the South would say if they were brave enough. There will always be a few who hate McDowell enough to vote SF out of spite, but that's not a significant block.
Post a Comment