Coalition eyes on Hollande as treaty hangs in balance

IT WAS a rare moment of light heartedness in an otherwise dull referendum campaign: The Labour leader had just begun his speech at the launch of his party’s call for a yes vote when a poster above became unhinged and crashed to the ground beside him.

The inevitable “I hope that’s not a bad omen” comment was uttered from the back of the room, to which the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn, quickly replied: “That is exactly why we need a new treaty — we need stability!”

In politics, selling a message is everything. Unexpected events will always happen. But how they are shaped to suit a particular political agenda can often be the difference between success and failure.