Bruton loses confidence vote

Bruton served as Taoiseach from 1994 to 1997

Ireland's main opposition party has narrowly voted to oust leader John Bruton, gambling that a more tough-spoken new figurehead can propel Fine Gael to victory at the next election.

After more than seven hours of impassioned speeches and backroom negotiations, party deputies voted no confidence in their leader by a margin of 39-33 ending Mr Bruton's 11 year leadership of the party.

"I am completely certain that Fine Gael will be in power after the next general election - I have no doubt about that

John Bruton

The 53-year-old leader had survived five previous challenges, relying on his reputation for integrity, intelligence and hard work at times when his largely conservative party languished in the polls.

Mr Bruton - who served as prime minister from 1994 to 1997 - appeared outside parliament to announce his resignation.

"I fully accept this democratic decision," he said, adding that the new leader would have his full support.

"I am completely certain that Fine Gael will be in power after the next general election - I have no doubt about that," he said.

Election looms

Although Mr Bruton remains a respected figure, Fine Gael MPs appear to have concluded that he was unable to lead them back into power.

I have a lot of respect for John personally and as a leader of the party, but my conscience tells me that today needs to be a fresh start for Fine Gael

Fine Gael's Simon Coveney

An election must be held by mid-2002 but could be called by the government of Prime Minister Bertie Ahern much sooner.

"I have a lot of respect for John personally and as a leader of the party," said party member Simon Coveney.

"But my conscience tells me that today needs to be a fresh start for Fine Gael."

Mr Coveney had supported Mr Bruton during the last leadership challenge two months ago, which the latter survived by a 3-to-1 margin.

New leader

The party is expected to pick a new leader in a week's time.

Finance spokesman Michael Noonan and public services spokesman Jim Mitchell, who tabled the no confidence motion, have already declared their candidacies.

Fine Gael ranks have been frustrated by the party's poor showing in opinion polls despite the government being embroiled in a succession of scandals involving bribery, incompetence and nepotism.

John Bruton was elected to the Dail, Ireland's lower house of parliament, in 1969 when he was just 22 and rose quickly through Fine Gael ranks.

In 1994 he became prime minister after coalition negotiations between Fianna Fail and the country's third-largest party, Labour, fell apart. He held the job until Fine Gael lost the 1997 election.