Parlon’s exit blows PD leadership wide open

In what can only be described as a surprising move, Tom Parlon has decided to leave the Progressive Democrats and take up a post in the Construction Industry Federation instead.

Until now, Parlon was expected to take one of the two PD Seanad nominations (along with Fiona O’Malley), but more importantly had already been marked as the PD leader-in-waiting, despite the fact that the contest had not yet begun.

The reason for this assumption was largely based on Parlon’s high standing within the party and his ability to grow its membership base. It was expected and speculated across the media that Parlon would take the crown and spend the next two years traveling the country, building up support to re-energise them in time for the 2009 EU and Local elections.

Parlon’s decision is sure to make those in PD HQ even more uneasy. His exit marks the end of the post-Harney PD Trinity - the leader, the deputy leader and the president - and indicates that the party rot is far from halted.

Fiona O’Malley is probably the front-runner for leadership now, however the entire contest has surely been blown wide open. One critical factor is which PD gets the other Seanad nomination, but with Parlon out of the way others whom have so far refrained from throwing their hat in the ring may now feel more emboldened than before.