1992 Fianna Fáil leadership election

The 1992 Fianna Fáil leadership election began in January 1992, when Charles Haughey resigned as party leader. Haughey had been party leader for thirteen years and had served as Taoiseach on three occasions. His successor was elected by the members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 6 February 1992. After one ballot the election was won by Albert Reynolds.

1992 Fianna Fáil leadership election

6 February 1992 (1992-02-06)
 
Candidate Albert Reynolds Michael Woods Mary O'Rourke
Party Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil
Percentage 79% 13% 8%

Leader before election

Charles Haughey

Elected Leader

Albert Reynolds

Candidates

Standing

Declined to stand

Campaign

The beginning of the end of Charles Haughey's leadership occurred in November 1991 when the Minister for Finance, Albert Reynolds, launched a leadership challenge. On that occasion the challenge failed, however, it was not to be the end of the issue.

Following the leadership challenge the business of government continued and the Minister for Justice, Ray Burke, introduced the phone-tapping bill. This did not please the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Seán Doherty, who had been dismissed from the cabinet in 1982 over his alleged involvement in the phone-tapping of journalists telephones. He considered the bill to be an affront to his character. He had always denied that he acted alone with regard to the tappings and had taken the rap in 1982. However, he was deeply unhappy that he would have to deal with the bill in the Seanad. In a television interview in early January 1992 Doherty indicated that he had not acted alone and that the phone-tappings were known by other senior members of the government. Doherty's comments were criticised by fellow politicians as bringing up old divisions. On 21 January 1992 he called a press conference in which he stated that Charles Haughey had known fully about the phone-tappings when previously he had stated the opposite. Haughey called his own press conference denying the claims, however, his partners in government, the Progressive Democrats, indicated that they would have to withdraw from the government as there was no way they could continue with Haughey as Taoiseach. Haughey told them that this was not necessary as he had decided to stand down as leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach.

On 30 January Haughey announced his resignation to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party. Albert Reynolds, the sacked Minister for Finance, immediately threw his hat into the ring. Haughey had wanted Bertie Ahern to stand for the leadership, however, he declined. Reynolds had no serious competition, however, Michael Woods and Mary O'Rourke also stood for the leadership.

Result

At the meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 6 February 1992 the following votes were cast:

Election: 6 February 1992
Candidate Votes %
Albert Reynolds 61 79%
Michael Woods 10 13%
Mary O'Rourke 6 8%
Turnout 77 100%
Result: Reynolds elected leader
gollark: https://dragcave.net/lineage/MpmwIOffers on this weirdness before I actually hatch it?
gollark: Have Neglected:https://dragcave.net/lineage/nXg5XWant:CB Metals, 2G Prize, 2G SAltkin, Cool OffersAlternatively, IOUs for:- Balloons!- New releases (a few per release)- Generic hatchlings? Maybe?- Reds. Many, many reds.(DM me for negotiation/haggling/details)https://dragcave.net/teleport/92ee006c81c5f255c2eebe6438017b44
gollark: https://dragcave.net/teleport/334b23afe0730e43bc3c7350779adaeaHave CB Mageia XenowyrmWant BSA hatchlings, preferably Reds, Pinks
gollark: https://dragcave.net/teleport/6c9d464dab0378ad7a8b1dd9176d3b5bHave two of each new release (CB).Want CB Gold, ND, Aeon, Unbreedables, other metals (really I just want to see what happens).
gollark: https://dragcave.net/teleport/10fc7cea61b0706949fc14f1fdbee19fCB Copper; want red hatchlings.I also have a mageia xeno and pink zyu (all CB).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.