FG in poll position as Cowen has no mandate

IN his column (June 10), Steven King made a number of valid points in relation to the recent elections.

However, the result can only be described as a political earthquake and absolutely historic. For the first time, the people chose to elect Fine Gael as the largest party in the state. Fianna Fáil came a distant second nationally and fourth in some local contests.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny – an honest, energetic, engaging man – is absolutely right when he says the country faces this current crisis not because Fianna Fáil’s policies have failed, but because they have succeeded. Economic progress must be a means to an end, not an end in itself – an idea espoused by Mr Kenny.