Bertie to be elected Taoiseach with 86 votes

[David Cochrane]

Bertie Ahern will be elected Taoiseach on June 14th with or without an agreed programme for government being agreed with anyone.

The PDs will vote for him regardless, so too will Sinn Fein, and Jackie Healy Rae and Beverly Flynn are almost certain to support him over Enda, so that leaves the 78 FF TDs.

What FF do need is stability, and they need a coalition partner in order to ensure they have a strong backbone of support in the Dail if (when?) things economically go titsup.

So thats, 86 votes.

Despite any grandstanding by Fine Gael, there is no way Enda Kenny will be Taoiseach.

Any thoughts?

[cullyhanna_man]

Unless Enda approaches SF with a deal then the above is a certainty.

[rover]

The PDs will vote for him regardless

Despite any grandstanding by Fine Gael, there is no way Enda Kenny will be Taoiseach

says who??? are you hiding under the table at the progressive democrat meetings today??

great to see the moderators of this site being bastions of impartiality......as usual...........

[David Cochrane]

On Newstalk on Monday, I pointed out that Fine Gael would never have SF in government, but perhaps should try something to get their vote.

And that's what it's about ultimately, how the 166 TDs will vote on June 14th.

[Movealong]

Unless Enda approaches SF with a deal then the above is a certainty.

He really should at least talk to them. He can use FF's willingness to accept support from them as his "in".

[adrem]

David

I just posted a big long mail on another thread - not going to repeat it. Basically I think PDs are realising today that they are king-makers. If Enda can get an SF abstention (in return for commitment on a green paper on UI within the life of the government), he can certainly get McGrath and Gregory and Lowry (local issue promises will deliver these 3) that would give him 82 votes (i'm including Green and Lab) when you include the PDs (MH for health) against the 78 FF + 2 gene pool.

I think it would be very unstable but it would be doable.

btw as you know I'm FF so I'm not pro this - I just think it could be done.

[Ireland2007]

great to see the moderators of this site being bastions of impartiality......as usual...........

Are the mods or owner, in this case not allowed to express their own opinions?

Idiot.

[malahide mullet]

"He really should at least talk to them. He can use FF's willingness to accept support from them as his "in". "

Straws anyone?

[cullyhanna_man]

Unless Enda approaches SF with a deal then the above is a certainty.

He really should at least talk to them. He can use FF's willingness to accept support from them as his "in".

Is your signature going to change soon?

[markmchugh]

how you so sure the PD's will vote for bertie? maybe the blame him for their metldown?