McDowell predicts Sinn Fein could be 'king maker'

Saturday April 22, 2006 23:36

by Masters Voice

With friends like these....

"No one believes that a Fine Gael-Labour-Green Rainbow could win a majority and have more seats than Fianna Fail, the Progressive Democrats, the non-left independents and Sinn Fein ""

The next Irish General Election cannot be viewed simply as a battle between the current coalition Government and a rainbow coalition, Injustice Minister McDowell insisted at the PD love in at Limerick today.

it would be wrong to ignore the possibility that Sinn Fein could potentially act as a king maker in the next Dail, deciding the make up of the next government he insisted to the Party faithful.

"There are many commentators who want the election to be a simple two-horse race between the Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrat coalition and the Rainbow. But that version is false. It is fundamentally flawed. It ignores two basic political facts - two facts which haven`t gone away you know. First there is the issue of Sinn Fein. If they get between 8% and 10% of the vote and translate that into seats they will win between 11 and 16 seats in the next Dail. And the paper (before delegates) spells out what that will mean if those seats constitute the effective balance of power.
Second, there is the question of the Rainbow. No one believes that a Fine Gael-Labour-Green Rainbow could win a majority and have more seats than Fianna Fail, the Progressive Democrats, the non-left independents and Sinn Fein unless it were to be supported and kept in office by Joe Higgins, Seamus Healy, Catherine Murphy, Tony Gregory and perhaps one or two others. That my friends is a slump coalition. The Rainbow scenario by any reasonable analysis is a government which would be left dominated and dependent on the hard left."

The PD conference continues this weekend...

I wonder what further revelations may unfold...

Harney joins a fitness class.....

with wespect,

MV

save preference

Comments (4 of 4)

I never got a portfolio.

by FF backbencher

Thu Jun 01, 2006 01:17

I never even got on Telly.
I did a radio interview though...
I do three surgeries in my constituency every month, and listen to my voters...
I know my party is going to implode at the next election, sure its taken for granted...
I might lose my seat...
I've been behind Bertie all the way...

But.

I'm having doubts now.
My loyalty is to my constituents and the party, thats why I joined FF. I'm passionate about politics and don't want to be a hurler in the ditch.
I understand the Irish people, what makes us great & what future we can have.
I know we're supposed to be silent, stay out of the limelight, so that we don't lose too many seats & a smooth transfer of power happens to the rainbow coalition, "same as always"...
I know that's supposed to mean we come back stronger than ever...

But.

I'm having doubts...
My constituents are having doubts...
My party are having doubts...

I can't leave my name.
I'm "an anonymous FF backbencher" who is wondering aloud -

Is it time to call the snap election?
just do it!!!!
we're going to have Willie O Dea as leader, I know thats the plan & we're supposed to be preparing to
take the piss out of Enda & Pat for a few years to guarantee our democracy....
We can't create a single party state now we're in the EU.

But.
I'm having doubts...
My constituents are having doubts...
My party are having doubts...

Which way is best to go?
Can't we just trust the people again?
Let them trust us?

and never ever have to worry about Michael mc Dowell ever ever again.

(why did you delete my article????)