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Are the PDs about to abandon FF?
Read more about: Bertiegate, Coalition, Fianna Fail, Progressive Democrats
There’s a hell of a lot of rumour and hearsay going around right now about the PDs, but a few things at least are clear: ireland.com is reporting that the PDs have gotten new information about Bertie’s financial dealings - there’s a claim on politics.ie that Jody Corcoran showed McDowell this information last night - and are now considering whether or not they’ll agree to a post-election coalition with FF.McDowell already said yesterday that he would have to ‘reflect’ about whether he was going to need more information from Bertie about his finances, before agreeing to a post-election coalition.
Senior PD party members are meeting in Dublin this afternoon at a specially convened meeting to discuss Bertie’s financial er, irregularities. When asked if the current Government coalition was secure, Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell said all issues would be discussed at the meeting later.
Meanwhile, the odds on Brian Cowen to be Taoiseach has halved from 16/1 to 8/1…
The most interesting outcome on this would be if the PDs came out and said, due to the information they have privately, they can no longer work with Bertie Ahern… while the PDs are ignored by most of the electorate, it would certainly cast a shadow if the people who worked with him for 10 years and supported him last year suddenly couldn’t anymore.
But I don’t expect them to say anything publicly until after the election - I cannot see McDowell ruling out a coalition with anyone other than SF at this stage. I do think it’s just posturing and fence-sitting.
Charlie Bird speculated on RTE this afternoon that the PDs were possibly about to resign from Government!
Mcdowell. What a bloody coward.
Yeah, saw that Ianmcg - very interesting and I’d be very surprised (as I stated above).
If he does, they’re (RTE) basically suggesting it would be the end of Bertie - but I don’t think such a move would boost the PDs too much, so I’m trying to figure what’s in it for McDowell, because that’s the most important thing here.
Either way, it looks like the Sunday papers will have the information that the PDs are currently privy to, will be interested to see just what that is.
Looks like Paddy Power have pulled their “who will be the next Taoiseach?” bet from the site after cutting Cowen’s odds over the last few days.
Interesting.
I’m trying to figure what’s in it for McDowell
The junior coalition partner giving the appearance of taking an independent stand so that, just like last time, they can run on a ‘vote for us and we’ll keep an eye on them’ ticket?
The junior coalition partner giving the appearance of taking an independent stand so that, just like last time, they can run on a ‘vote for us and we’ll keep an eye on them’ ticket?
Hmm.. maybe you’re right. There’s a lot of risk in it for McDowell, but I suppose they need to take a chance.
If the people get behind Bertie on this one and think McD overreacted then he’ll be isolated, it’s also working on the assumption that the PDs were actually voted in to be watchdogs and that overall they did a good job in that regard.