Bertie announces he will resign before 2012 election

In an interview with Vincent Browne, editor of Village, Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach, said he would not stand in the 2012 election, when he will be 60. He said he would resign as Taoiseach just before the election.

But while Mr Ahern may intend staying on until the end of the next Dáil term, if re-elected Taoiseach, his position would become untenable some years into the next Dáil. This is because there would be pressure within his own party to allow his successor adequate time to establish himself/herself before the election was held.

This announcement causes further uncertainty for Fianna Fail in the election and the retirement issue is likely to be pursued by journalists in the coming week. It may cause what is know as the “Blair-effect”, reference to the confusion that the British Labour Party has experienced because of the announcement by Tony Blair during the last election campaign that he would resign before the following election.   

His statement that he would not stand as a candidate in the election will cause further confusion in his constituency, Dublin Central.