Irish finance minister Cowen set to be next PM
Irish deputy premier Brian Cowen is set to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Bertie Ahern next month, officials revealed on Saturday.
Cowen, who is also finance minister, was the only contender for leadership of the ruling Fianna Fail party when nominations closed, chief whip Tom Kitt confirmed.
"I am deeply honoured by the confidence shown in me by the members of the Parliamentary Party," Cowen, 48, said in reaction.
"It is a reflection of the support of the wider Fianna Fail membership throughout the country. I am grateful for that overwhelming endorsement of my candidacy for the leadership of the party at this time."
He has already received the backing of all the senior Fianna Fail ministers in the coalition government.
Unless the three-party alliance -- which is also supported by a number of independent lawmakers -- breaks down, Cowen will not face a general election until mid-2012.
He will be the first leader of centrist Fianna Fail to succeed to the post by acclamation since former premier Sean Lemass took over from its founder Eamon de Valera in 1959.
A special meeting of the parliamentary party will be held next Wednesday to formally elect him as leader.
He is then due to be elected as Taoiseach (prime minister) on May 7 by the Dail (lower house of parliament) in succession to Ahern, who will tender his resignation to President Mary McAleese the day before.
Cowen was nominated by Justice Minister Brian Lenihan and seconded by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan.
Both have been named as Cowen's possible future Tanaiste (deputy prime minister).
In a surprise announcement, Ahern said last Wednesday that he will stand down on May 6, to clear his name over allegations about his personal finances which are being investigated by an official judicial tribunal.
The first major task for Cowen -- a veteran of five top ministries since 1992 -- will be to spearhead the government's campaign for a "Yes" vote for the Lisbon Treaty in a ballot expected on June 12.
Ireland is the only European Union member state holding a referendum on the new EU treaty, which replaces the doomed constitution whose rejection by French and Dutch voters in 2005 plunged the bloc into unprecedented limbo.
He will take over Ireland's top political job, for 310,000 euros (487,000 dollars) a year, as the country's so-called Celtic Tiger economy appears to be running out of steam.
A former lawyer who is married with two daughters, Cowen was first elected to the midlands constituency of Laois-Offaly in succession to his father -- also a former government minister - in 1984.
AFP
