FF chiefs signal desire for an agreed successor

SENIOR figures within Fianna Fáil have strongly signalled a preference for an agreed candidate to succeed Bertie Ahern as party leader and taoiseach.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan yesterday ruled himself out of any potential leadership race, saying it was important for the continued stability and strength of the party not to be divided over Mr Ahern’s successor.

His comments favour Tánaiste Brian Cowen, who has been widely tipped to take over the top post, not least by Mr Ahern himself who last summer declared him his “obvious successor”.