By IRNA,
London : Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen was going through the motions Tuesday to formally dissolve parliament ahead of this month’s early elections after announcing that he would be retiring from politics.
His announcement to end his 27-year career comes after he resigned as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail last week following months of political turmoil over the country’s economic collapse.
Cowen, who has been Taoiseach (prime minister) at the head of a coalition with the Greens since 2008, was due to make his farewell speech in parliament after confirming on Midlands Radio that he will not stand in Ireland’s forthcoming general election.
‘I have to take things into consideration now in the context of the fact of having been Taoiseach and leader of the party and former leader and giving a break to the new leader’ (former foreign minister Michael Martin), he said on Monday night.
The formal announcement of the election date is also due to be made Tuesday by Minister for Local Government Éamon Ó Cuív, with February 25 the most likely date for the poll.
The latest opinion poll published in the Sunday Business Post at the weekend shows that Fine Gael remains on course to replace Fianna Fail and lead the next government in coalition with Labour.
Support for Fianna Fail has imploded during the economic crisis and has so far led to 20 of its 76 MPs to announce that they will not stand at the elections.