Better the Devil You Know

Posted by diarmy on Jun 17, 2010 in Featured Articles, Politics | 0 Comments

Today’s so-called “historic” vote held to find a leader to steer the supposed “largest part in Ireland” descended into what was inevitably going to be a bland and murky affair. The media speculation, adulation and hype ahead of the confidence motion in Enda Kenny today was nothing short of a blessing in disguise for Brian Cowen as he slipped away to keep the country going at meetings in Brussels. Fine Gael brought the nation’s media gaze upon them only to flip flop on such a boring and unnecessary question – who should ‘lead’ Fine Gael. The fact that no one really cares didn’t seem to bother them. Deciding whether to choose Bruton over Kenny is much like tossing a ten-cent-piece – two sides of the same coin.

In the end, it fell to party Chairman and Galway TD Pádraig McCormack to bring the news no one was in any doubt about – Enda Kenny won. And in true cloak and dagger fashion, the actual result wasn’t defined in the number of votes cast for each. So as some speculate the margin of difference was as much as six, I suspect it’s much closer to even than that. This was really a contest of who could keep the status quo. As a result, Fine Gael is very firmly divided tonight – and will be for some time to come.

Richard Bruton took the under hand of the party leader in an awkward pose on the plinth outside Leinster House in a move to show the country that the wounds were healed. But the rift is palpable. Those who lost today’s vote now face working with a leader they publicly castrated over the past few days. For Bruton himself, the next logical step now is to resign. To serve again in a Kenny cabinet would undermine his principles and show him in a faltered light. Likewise the likes of Leo Varadkar who’s ambitions are known to all will now have to consider their position carefully.

From an elective standpoint, Fine Gael are now the blunt side of a double-edged sword. An unknown quantity. A chip pan on low heat with the cover on. This is not the end of the ambitions of those who wish to oust the West of Ireland leader from the party. Haughey had the night of the long knives, Kenny now has the summer of discontent part 2. This will not go quietly into the night, nor will it vanish without a fight. Kenny will live on, but for how long?

diarmy