Irish government caught by surprise on election calls

The Irish Government has been thrown into crisis after a junior partner in the ruling coalition has called for a general election.

22 November 2010, 12:00am

John Gormley, Green party leader and environment minister said he wanted a the vote to be set in the second half of January.

The call comes after Cabinet ministers agreed to ask the International Monetary Fund and Europe for a multibillion bail out.

The call was described as humiliating for the country.

“We have now reached a point where the Irish people need political certainty to take them beyond the coming two months. So we believe it is time to fix a date for a general election in the second half of January 2011," Gormley said.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101122/ap_on_bi_ge/world_markets Irish bailout boost to markets proves short-lived http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101122/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_europe_financial_crisis Green party in Irish govt demands early elections http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11811384 Ireland crisis: Ruling coalition partner urges election http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11808577 Irish political uncertainty dents markets http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/stephanieflanders/2010/11/irish_lessons_for_the_eurozone.html Irish lessons for the eurozone http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101122/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_europe_financial_crisis EU bailout endangers Irish government, slams banks http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101122/tts-uk-ireland-ca02f96.html Irish coalition teeters on brink after bailout deal http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20101122/twl-cowen-refuses-to-bow-to-election-cal-41f21e0.html Cowen refuses to bow to election calls http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101122/tpl-oukoe-uk-ireland-underpants-protest-c31991c.html Shy Irish wear IMF protest on their underpants http://euobserver.com/9/31325 Irish goverment teetering as Greens pull plug on coalition http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11816740 Irish PM Brian Cowen to call new year election http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/11/the_irish_fall-out.html The Irish fall-out http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11814075 Political shake-up looms after Irish bail-out http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/seealso/2010/11/daily_view_irelands_debt_and_t.html Daily View: Ireland's debt and the euro http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11810195 Ireland crisis: 'I cannot wait to get away'

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And it could be Malta Next.

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As they used to say The King is dead. Long live the King. Now we can prepare to say it to the EU and the Euro. The EU is dead. Long live the EU. The Euro is dead. Long live the Euro.