Electing new leader could take weeks

CONFIDENCE MOTION:IT COULD take a number of weeks to elect a new Fine Gael leader in the event of Enda Kenny losing tomorrow's confidence motion.

The parliamentary party meeting, which commences at 11am tomorrow, will be a one-issue meeting.

The only motion before it will be the motion of confidence in Mr Kenny as leader, proposed by himself and seconded by party whip Paul Kehoe.

The motion will be decided by a secret ballot of the 70-strong parliamentary party, comprised of 51 TDs, 15 Senators and four MEPs.

If Mr Kenny fails to secure a majority, he will resign as leader of the party.

Last night, Fine Gael chairman Padraic McCormack said that in the event of Mr Kenny being deposed, a new system for electing a leader would be initiated.

The system, based on “colleges” of votes, gives weighted votes to the three constituencies.

The parliamentary party is given 65 per cent of the voting weight; the party’s membership has 25 per cent, and the remaining 10 per cent is allotted to the party’s councillors.

Mr McCormack said the process could take a number of weeks.

“If Mr Kenny resigns, we will then have to declare an election. There will be a period of a week or so for nominations.

“If there is more than one candidate, we will then have to proceed with the vote simultaneously, from all three sectors.

“This is going to take some time. It is uncharted water and it’s completely new,” he said.

During that time, Mr McCormack would assume the position of acting leader.

There were mixed views among Fine Gael TDs last night as to whether the leadership will be contested in the event of Mr Kenny resigning.

The view held by most TDs and Senators was that it would be uncontested, and that Richard Bruton would be elected leader unopposed.

However, there was a view among a minority of parliamentary party members that somebody – perhaps a supporter of Mr Kenny – might emerge as a challenger.

The last time there was a contested election for the leadership position in Fine Gael was in 2002, following the party’s dismal showing in the general election that year.

Four candidates stood for the position on that occasion, and the issue was decided by the parliamentary party alone. Mr Kenny was elected leader.