Fianna Fáil leadership election, 2011
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Fianna Fáil leadership election was called by party leader Brian Cowen
on 22 January 2011, when he announced that he was resigning as president and leader of the party. He remained as Taoiseach
until after the 2011 general election.
The deadline for nominations closed at 1 p.m. on 24 January, and the new leader was elected at a special Fianna Fáil
parliamentary party meeting on 26 January. Micheál Martin
was elected as the party's eighth leader.
Only TDs
who were members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party were eligible to vote. Jimmy Devins
rejoined the parliamentary party on 25 January, a day before the leadership election, bringing the total number of eligible voters to 72.
RTÉ News
reported that Martin had received 33 first preference votes, compared to Ó Cuív's 15, Lenihan's 14 and Hanafin's 10; it added that the election ended on the third count, with Ó Cuív the runner-up. When Hanafin had been eliminated and her votes redistributed, Ó Cuív and Lenihan were equal on 18 votes each; Lenihan was then eliminated, having received fewer first preferences.
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
on 22 January 2011, when he announced that he was resigning as president and leader of the party. He remained as Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
until after the 2011 general election.
The deadline for nominations closed at 1 p.m. on 24 January, and the new leader was elected at a special Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
parliamentary party meeting on 26 January. Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...
was elected as the party's eighth leader.
Standing
- Mary HanafinMary HanafinMary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...
– Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation - Brian Lenihan, JnrBrian Lenihan, JnrBrian Joseph Lenihan was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and barrister who served in the government of Ireland as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 2007 to 2008 and as Minister for Finance from 2008 to 2011...
– Minister for FinanceMinister for Finance (Ireland)The Minister for Finance is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters. The office-holder controls the Department of Finance and is considered one of the most important members of the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Finance is... - Micheál MartinMicheál MartinMicheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...
– Former Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland)The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Government of Ireland. Its headquarters are at Iveagh House, on St Stephen's Green in Dublin; "Iveagh House" is often used as a metonym for the department as a whole.The current... - Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency since 1992 and was previously a member of Seanad Éireann.-Early life:...
– Minister for Social Protection, Minister for DefenceMinister for Defence (Ireland)The Minister for Defence is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Government of Ireland. Under new arrangements this department is being merged with the Department of Justice over which Mr. Shatter will also preside....
and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Declined to stand
- Conor LenihanConor LenihanConor Lenihan is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South West constituency from 1997 to 2011, and served as a Minister of State from 2004 to 2011. He then moved to Moscow.-Biography:...
– Minister of State for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources
Results
| Election: 26 January 2011 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | 1st count | 2nd count | 3rd count | ||
| Micheál Martin Micheál Martin Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency... |
33 | 36 | 50 | ||
| Éamon Ó Cuív Éamon Ó Cuív Éamon Ó Cuív is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency since 1992 and was previously a member of Seanad Éireann.-Early life:... |
15 | 18 | 22 | ||
| Brian Lenihan, Jnr Brian Lenihan, Jnr Brian Joseph Lenihan was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and barrister who served in the government of Ireland as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 2007 to 2008 and as Minister for Finance from 2008 to 2011... |
14 | 18 | – | ||
| Mary Hanafin Mary Hanafin Mary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,... |
10 | – | – | ||
| Result: Micheál Martin elected leader. | |||||
Only TDs
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
who were members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party were eligible to vote. Jimmy Devins
Jimmy Devins
James "Jimmy" Devins is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician and medical doctor. He served as a Teachta Dála from 2002 to 2011....
rejoined the parliamentary party on 25 January, a day before the leadership election, bringing the total number of eligible voters to 72.
RTÉ News
RTÉ News
RTÉ News and Current Affairs , is a major division of Raidió Teilifís Éireann responsible for news programming on television, radio and online within the Republic of Ireland. It is, by far, the largest and most popular news source in Ireland - with 77% of the Irish public regarding it as their main...
reported that Martin had received 33 first preference votes, compared to Ó Cuív's 15, Lenihan's 14 and Hanafin's 10; it added that the election ended on the third count, with Ó Cuív the runner-up. When Hanafin had been eliminated and her votes redistributed, Ó Cuív and Lenihan were equal on 18 votes each; Lenihan was then eliminated, having received fewer first preferences.