Ahern: I'm ready to cut poll deal with Labour

[David Cochrane]

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has gone over Pat Rabbitte's head in a bid to woo Labour voters into a new coalition with Fianna Fail.

He has opened the door to a post-election deal with either Labour or the Greens - if the numbers do not stack up with his current coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats.

They remain his first choice for the next Government as he bids for an historic three-in-a-row.

But, in a significant step, he has moved to remind Labour voters of the common ground between them and Fianna Fail, particularly on social issues.

In an exclusive interview with the Irish Independent, the Taoiseach has put his cards on the table in the most explicit terms yet with just five months to go to the general election.

Crunching the numbers - Irish Independent Editorial

[Gladstone]

So he'll go in with the same people he's saying would destroy the economy if they were in with FG?


Must be his "socialism" driving him, is he had any credability left it's gone now.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Are FG being shafted?

[Rocky]

I think this shows us that Bertie knows FF and the PDs don't have a hope of getting enough seats. Why else would he go looking for the support of other parties that according to his party are going to destroy the economy (Labour) and are jihadists (Greens)? This also puts McDowell in a terrible position.

[Rocky]

Are FG being shafted?

No the PDs are.

[Gladstone]

Are FG being shafted?

No the PDs are.

I have to agree FT, this is a major snub to the PDs, Bertie is essentially doing three things:

1. Predicting their electoral oblivvion, or a drop to seat numbers so small they can't get in with FF-PD-Ind

2. Shafting the PD mantra that labour would destroy the economy

3. Making McDowell look like a non-entity.

[President Bartlet]

It will be interesting to see how the Rabbitte reacts.
I know he has said in the past that he wont go into govt with FF put will he really pass up the chance of the Merc and perks : I doubt it.

The Mullingar Accord is worthless now as the Taoiseach's statement gives those in Labour who want out of it a way out.
It piles the pressure on FG and gives two fingers to the PDs

[owenfeehan]

Ahern is trying to muddy the waters by taking away from the clearcut incumbents against alternative dynamic that the Mullingar accord was designed to define.

It's a good strategic move for him as it shifts talking points away from FG and the alternative and onto speculation over FF and Labour. It also endears him further to Labour-sympathisers both in terms of first preference votes and the transfer market.

It doesn't alter anything internally in Labour who always knew full well that Ahern would be delighted to do a deal with them if numbers required it.

It was in full knowledge and expectation of the possibility of a FF-Labour coalition, that the leader and party membership overwhelmingly backed Mullingar. Pat Rabbitte has said clearly and explicitly on many occasions that government with Fianna Fail is not going to happen on his watch.

The Labour membership are extermely disappointed and hostile to this government's record, because they see so many wasted opportunities and a scandalous failure to invest the fruits of the economic boom well. The Labour membership have no intention in the world of returning Fianna Fail to government, and it is the membership who ultimately decide these matters.

The media will inevitably speculate, but there is no need. There will be no Fianna Fail - Labour government for reasons of principle and even aside from that, plain electoral self-preservation on the part of Labour.

[drjimryan]

I can hear the words already................

'The people have spoken and I believe it is my duty as leader of the labour party to listen to them. Whilst my pre election stratedgy was well known, I feel I must act in the National interest and join the co-altion with FF'


.......i've put some tought into this today and maybe will share......whilst the 'feel' around is good and a number of pre summer depressed ff'ers around the house have definitely cheered up and become confident, the problem for bertie is;

a. there are no upcoming people in the constituencies where td's retired....this is largely due to Ahernes statedgy of running down the cumanns to give individual td's more reign. The problem is where this has been effective and the td' has now stood down the prospect of holding is somewght diminished....thus the reliance on 'Star' candidates....Dublin North is a fine example of this........

b. It is simply impossible, and I'll stick to Dublin, to see Carey, Mulcahy, oconnor, Callely holding on and when one adds in the retiring seats....10-15 still seems viable irrespective of the'Bertie' factor.......

....wait....i'll do a cowell......Mulcahy may stay due to the FG mess.....

So I must throw in me tuppence.....it looks like a FF/Lab but even combined with a Majority of only 5-9 seats......

[meriwether]

Desperation on the part of FF?
I know if Kenny or Rabbitte said a similar thing regarding the PD's, the usual suspects here would be telling us it is because the Mullingar accord cant win.
I think its not unreasonable to deduce that Ahern knows that he doesnt have the numbers to retain Govt with the same partner- and with Independents. This is after a budget, and apparently, bad poll results for the Rainbow. Doesnt seem to me to be the behaviour of a coalition who are confident of retaning power.