"Within Fianna Fáil, there are 41 faithfuls. Toeing the party line, rowing in behind their leader Micheál Martin and backing Jim Gavin for president. However, there are 29 traitors in the Taoiseach's midst, who voted for Billy Kelleher in secret and in doing so, threw his leadership of the party into question. Does Micheál Martin's future hang on this massive Jim Gavin gamble?"
"Meanwhile, Sinn Féin continue to weigh up backing Catherine Connolly or a candidate of their own, while Heather Humphreys has faced tough questioning in her first week on the ballot. Today on the Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Mary Regan, political editor with the Irish Independent, and Tabitha Monahan, political reporter with the Irish Independent, to run the rule over the three presidential candidates officially on the pitch, and ask - could Micheál Martin's days at the top of Fianna Fáil be numbered?"
One Fianna Fáil TD publicly claimed unity while internal voting revealed significant division. Forty-one TDs publicly backed Jim Gavin and Micheál Martin, while twenty-nine secretly voted for Billy Kelleher, raising questions about Martin's leadership. The secret votes against the party line highlight a fracture within the parliamentary party and create uncertainty about the wisdom of the Jim Gavin strategy. Sinn Féin remain undecided between backing Catherine Connolly or fielding their own candidate. Heather Humphreys has faced intensive questioning during her first week on the ballot. The contest of presidential candidates intensifies scrutiny on party cohesion and leadership stability.
Read at Irish Independent
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