Martin scrambles to reassert his authority on FF

MICHEÁL MARTIN scrambled to reassert his authority on Fianna Fáil last night after the party’s shaky presidential stance provoked uproar.

In a bid to ease tensions in Fianna Fáil and head off what he called a “leadership issue” for Mr Martin, rebel senator Labhrás Ó Murchú withdrew his candidacy for the Áras.

Mr Ó Murchú’s bid to stand as an independent with Fianna Fáil backing led to stormy exchanges at the previous party meeting at which deputy leader Eamon Ó Cuív was reported to have threatened to resign.

Despite previously clashing with Mr Martin over the party’s presidential stance, Mr Ó Cuív joined with the leader in proposing that no Fianna Fáil deputy or senator backed any candidate for the Áras yesterday.

The move was agreed without a vote and signalled the end for any hopes Dana had of gaining the 20 Oireachtas votes needed for a nomination, and badly dented the aspirations of Senator David Norris to do likewise.

Mr Ó Murchú said he was bowing out so as not to “prolong uncertainty within Fianna Fáil” but insisted the party was wrong not to have contested the election.

The senator said the matter had become a “leadership issue” in the media and that was why he had decided to withdraw.

“I did not want to be part of any leadership speculation.

“I do believe that we should have had a candidate in the field.

“There is a certain vacuum there in that debate. I feel Fianna Fáil could have filled that vacuum but it was the wish of the party not to go down that road,” he said.

Mr Martin’s presidential race stance has widely been seen as damaging for the party and undermining his leadership of Fianna Fáil.

Mr Martin was publicly humiliated when former chat show host gay Byrne refused to accept an offer of Fianna Fáil backing for the nomination in August.

This in turn led to popular Munster MEP Brian Crowley to announce he would no longer seek the party’s backing for an Áras bid as he exited the campaign with parting shots at the way the issue had been handled.

Mr Martin then insisted FF would not have a candidate of its own, but may back some one else for the presidency.

Rowdy scenes erupted when this was discussed among the 33 Fianna Fáil TDs and senators last week in a heated six-hour showdown on the issue.

Mr Ó Murchú said he wanted to stand as an independent but with nominations from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.

The move caused a rift in the party and saw Mr Martin’s style of leadership come in for close inspection.

This will be the first presidential election since 1936 that the party will not have a candidate and analysers predict much of the traditional Fianna Fáil vote may switch to Sinn Féin.