FIANNA Fail has never I let an election go unchallenged at any Level thus a senior. My party source commented on the general view that if the President, Mrs. Robinson, wants another seven year term she will not be opposed. But will she want to stay in the job? Mrs Robinson leaves tomorrow for a 10 day break at her house in Mayo. She will make up her mind over the holiday period and, as promised, will announce her decision during the first quarter of 1997. A statement is expected around February but if a popular January Budget leads to an early election, Mrs Robinson will delay her announcement to avoid muddling the campaign. And what will she do? Those close to her say she has not made up her mind. The crunch time is the next couple of weeks. Observers believe she still has great enthusiasm for the job and will go for a second term. Despite its record it is unlikely FF will oppose her the cost would be too high for an election it would most likely lose. In either event its candidate is likely to be David Andrews, although several others, such as Mary O'Rourke, Albert Reynolds and (according to some reports) Maire Geoghegan Quinn, are interested. But the general election comes first and the divvy up of Cabinet posts may take care of a few potential candidates.
In any event, no party will choose a runner until the new government is formed. The recent controversies and the bad opinion polls for the Coalition parties indicate an election in late spring or even the autumn when the Presidential election is due.
Mrs Robinson always maintained she didn't want the top job at the UN and it has now been filled. But two other major posts, Commissioner for Refugees or for Human Rights could become available at any time and there is speculation that she may have an interest in one or the other if she doesn't go for the Park again.