Irish PM faces leadership challenge

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen agreed on the 16 January 2011 to a confidence vote in the Irish Parliament on the 18 January 2011, challenging party colleagues to back or sack him. Foreign Minister Micheal Martin in turn offered his resignation, saying he would not support the premier.

Irish Times, 18.1.11: Numbers seem to favour Cowen in party vote http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0118/1224287762371.html

BBC News, 18.1.11: Irish PM Brian Cowen to face secret leadership ballot http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12212885

BBC News, 17.1.11: Irish PM Brian Cowen's challenger has 'no support' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12204742

ESO: Background information: Cowen to lead party into 2011 elections http://www.europeansources.info/record/cowen-to-lead-party-into-2011-elections/

BBC News, 16.1.11: Foreign minister Martin in challenge to Irish PM Cowen http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12202558

Irish Times, 17.1.11: Lenihan, Hanafin silent on voting intentions in FF ballot http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0117/breaking4.html

Deutsche Welle, 17.1.11: Irish prime minister faces challenge in ranks ahead of crunch vote http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14770510,00.html

France24, 16.1.11: Irish PM calls confidence vote over party leadership http://www.france24.com/en/20110116-ireland-prime-minister-cowen-calls-confidence-vote-over-leadership

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