Competence will be the key to FF’s success in this year’s elections

WITH horse racing now mired in scandal and allegations of race-fixing, wise punters might be diverting their attention to politics.

However, when it comes to giving odds on the next election, there isn't much money to be made. Over the weekend it was reported that Paddy Power has installed Fianna Fáil at 1/10 for a return to power when the election comes in 2006 or 2007.

The odds seem well founded, not because of opinion polls, but because of the terrain on which this race is likely to be run. In the absence of any real ideological dispute, there are three criteria which will determine the outcome of the next general election change, cohesion and competence.