17/12/2010

Martin Favourite To Lead Fianna Fail

Micheál Martin is now the most popular successor to Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fáil, according to an Irish Times.

Mr Martin, who is currently Minister for Foreign Affairs, has overtaken the Finance Minister Brian Lenihan as front-runner for the next leader of the party.

It is believed Mr Lenihan's popularity has taken a significant nosedive since the EU and International Monetary Fund bailout.

Betting website Paddy Power now has Mr Martin at 4/5 to lead the party and 16/1 to lead the country at the next general election.

Yesterday, the Irish Times poll revealed support for the Irish Government is at a record low and that Fine Gael are the most favoured party.

The Irish Times/ Ipsos MRBI poll said that support for Fianna Fail had fallen to just 17%, a fall of seven points since September 30, while support for the Taoiseach has sank five points to 14%.

According to the Irish Times the figures are the lowest ratings achieved by a government or taoiseach since MRBI began polling for The Irish Times in the autumn of 1982.

Only 8% of the 1,000 people polled would say they were satisfied with the Government's performance.

Fine Gael, on the other hand, have been buoyed by a 6% rise in popularity to 30% support among the electorate, although Enda Kenny's popularity has slipped by two points to 23%.

The poll has led Paddy power to put a Fine Gael and Labour coalition at 1/14 odds on to be the next Government.

One of the surprises in the poll is a surge in support for Sinn Fein, who have climbed by seven points to 15%, and are now almost as popular as Fianna Fail. Gerry Adams personal satisfaction rating is now 28%, double that of Brian Cowens dour 14% rating.

Labour has also taken an unexpected spill, falling nine points to 18% support, despite their leader Eamonn Gilmore maintaining the hightest satisfaction rating among all party leaders with 44%, even though the figure is a five point drop since the September 30 poll.

(DW)

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