By IRNA
London : Deputy prime minister Brian Cowan is the firm favourite to replace Bertie Ahern as Ireland’s prime minister following his sudden announcement of his resignation Wednesday, according to the Irish press.
Several cabinet ministers are expected to challenge for the post but Cowan is likely to become the new leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party after being personally identified by Ahern as his preferred successor, the Irish Independent said.
Reacting to the resignation, the deputy prime minister said that he and his colleagues wanted to thank the prime minister for his enormous contribution to politics in Ireland.
“He has been the outstanding politician of his era,” said Cowan, a former foreign minister.
Ahern was prime minister for 11 years after winning the last three general elections. He has also been a member of the Irish Parliament for 31 years.
Announcing that he will step down from power on May 6, the prime minister insisted that he is confident he will be exonerated of any wrongdoing by a public inquiry into his personal finances that started 10 months ago.
Amongst other tributes, former British prime minister Tony Blair said that Ahern will always be remembered for his crucial role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which both leaders presided over.
Blair said the Irish premier had also transformed relations between Britain and the Irish Republic and presided over a sustained period of economic and social advance in Ireland.