International   

Ahern to quit amid charges

— Photo: AFP

Scandal-hit: Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

LONDON: Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who played a pivotal role in negotiating the Northern Ireland peace process, is to step down over allegations of personal financial irregularities.

Mr. Ahern, who has been Prime Minister since 1997 and is regarded as one of Ireland’s most successful leaders of recent times, announced on Wednesday that he had decided to resign because he did not want “issues related to my own person to dominate the people and the body politic.”

He would submit his resignation as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) on May 6. The 56-year-old leader, who led his party to three successive election victories, said: “I know in my heart of hearts I have done no wrong and wronged no one. My decision is motivated by what is best for the people. It is a personal decision. I will not allow issues related to my own person to dominate the people and the body politic.”

Mr. Ahern’s announcement came after some of his Cabinet colleagues voiced concern that the controversy surrounding his personal finances was damaging the government and the party.

Two senior Ministers publicly urged him to address what they described as public “disquiet” over the issue.

A judicial tribunal is investigating allegations of unaccounted money in Mr. Ahern’s bank accounts but he has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has launched a court challenge to limit the scope of the investigation. The allegations relate to the 1990s.

The former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who worked closely with him on the Northern Ireland peace process, described him as a “great Taoiseach” and said: “He will always be remembered for his crucial role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, for transforming relations between Britain and the Irish Republic and for presiding over a sustained period of economic and social advance in Ireland.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Mugabe’s party loses Parliament
UNP, SLMC in tie-up for provincial polls
Uprising attempt in Xinjiang: China
Fund sought to fight emissions
Focus on energy: Pelosi
Russia vows response
Ahern to quit amid charges
Cuba lends land to private farmers
Doctors allege raw deal
Dhaka-Kolkata train from April 14

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu