Once upon a time in the land governed by a new coalition...
Cowen had led the party through nine years in opposition, but had resigned after falling short of a majority at the end of the rainbow government's second term in office.
Hanafin had been the unanimous choice to succeed him, and it was she who had put the new coalition together. It hadn't been easy. The media was universally hostile, and several members of her own party harboured the deepest misgivings. But it was either do it or spend another five years in opposition, and none of them was ready for that.
