- Title: IRELAND: New leader vows new start for crippled country
- Date: 27th February 2011
- Summary: DUBLIN, IRELAND (FEBRUARY 26, 2011) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) FINE GAEL LEADER, ENDA KENNY (PRIME MINISTER DESIGNATE), BEING ANNOUNCED AND WALKING ONTO STAGE AT PARTY EVENT PARTY SUPPORTERS CLAPPING AND CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINE GAEL LEADER, ENDA KENNY, SAYING: "First of all may I say, I am deeply grateful to the Irish people for showing such faith in Fine Gael by voting for us in such huge numbers across Ireland." CAMERA CREWS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINE GAEL LEADER, ENDA KENNY, SAYING: "We now stand at a transformative moment in Ireland's history. We stand on the brink of fundamental change in how we regard ourselves, in how we regard our economy and in how we regard our society. Change that will require a gigantic leap, a leap of faith in a time when the idea of hope, even the idea of future itself are being tested." FINE GAEL BALLOONS FINE GAEL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AND PARTY EXECUTIVE STANDING BY BALLOONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINE GAEL LEADER, ENDA KENNY, SAYING: "I thank you for your trust and pledge that we will not shirk in our responsibility or renege on that trust that you have given us. Thank you and goodnight." KENNY RAISING HANDS IN AIR WITH TWO FINE GAEL SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES
- Embargoed: 14th March 2011 18:39
- Keywords:
- Location: Ireland, Ireland
- Country: Ireland
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA51CP2B1Y6C7A4KNDXK0ZZKSKF
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Ireland's new leader, Fine Gael's Enda Kenny, says country is on "brink of fundamental change" and pledges to turn country's shattered economy around.
At a victory party in Dublin on Saturday (February 26) Ireland's new prime minister, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny vowed to turned the country's fortunes around.
To loud cheers and whoops from the party faithful Kenny pledged a new era for Ireland.
"We now stand at a transformative moment in Ireland's history. We stand on the brink of fundamental change in how we regard ourselves, in how we regard our economy and in how we regard our society. Change that will require a gigantic leap, a leap of faith in a time when the idea of hope, even the idea of future itself are being tested," said Kenny.
He thanked voters for giving his party a resounding win. Fine Gael look set to take 36 percent of the votes according to exit polls. Counting continues and the full result will not be known until Sunday (February 27).
Fine Gael do not look likely to win an outright majority, but can either chose to form a minority government in agreement with a mish-mash of independents or they could form a coalition with Labour.
Exit polls had Labour on a historic high of winning 20.5 percent of the vote. Most analysts believe Kenny will opt to go into coalition with Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.
Voters gave outgoing ruling Fianna Fail a kicking at the polls, in angry reaction to the country's spectacular economic collapse which resulted in a humiliating EU-IMF bailout.
Kenny said on Saturday he believed there might be wriggle room to renegotiate the interest rate charge on the 85 billion euro (116 billion US dollars) bailout, something that will resonate strongly with the Irish public, who feel deep bitterness at the deal which is hitting the tax payer hard. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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