The Progressive Democrats leadership election, 2006 began on 7 September 2006 when

Mary Harney Mary Harney (born 11 March 1953) is an Irish former politician and the current Chancellor of the University of Limerick. She was leader of the Progressive Democrats party between 1993 and 2006 and again from 2007 to 2008, resuming the role aft ...

resigned as leader of the

Progressive Democrats The Progressive Democrats ( ga, An Páirtí Daonlathach, literally "The Democratic Party" ), commonly referred to as the PDs, was a conservative-liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Mal ...

. In spite of speculation earlier in the year surrounding her position as leader, Harney's announcement surprised many. She had been leader of the party since 1993.

Election procedure

According to the party's constitution, if there is just one candidate for the leadership of the

, this person will be elected leader by acclamation. If several candidates put their names forward, the next leader will be determined by an electoral college. Each member of this college will have one vote, but these votes will be weighed according to which group they belong to. TDs, Senators and MEPs will form the first group which represent 40% of the votes. Councillors, national executive members and trustees of the party will form the second group which represent 30% of the votes. The third group contains party members for more than one year prior to the date of the leadership election. This group represent 30% of the votes.

Candidates

Nominations for the leadership closed on midday Monday, 11 September 2006. Michael McDowell was nominated for the position of Party Leader by

Tom Parlon Tom Parlon (born 19 August 1953) is a former Irish Progressive Democrats politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency from 2002 to 2007 and was also the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special r ...

and that nomination is to be seconded by

Liz O'Donnell Liz O'Donnell (born 1 July 1956) is a former Irish Progressive Democrats politician, who represented Dublin South as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1992 to 2007. Early and personal life O'Donnell was born in Dublin in 1956, where her father worked f ...

Result

Despite speculation of differences, Michael McDowell was elected unopposed, and remained in office until he resigned on losing his seat in the 2007 general election.

Timeline of events

*Summer 2005 – Michael McDowell claims that

told him that she would stand down as leader of the

in December 2005. *20 June 2006 – Following a week of media leaks and comment surrounding Mary Harney, Michael McDowell forces a debate on the leadership issue at a meeting of the Progressive Democrats parliamentary party. Harney receives unanimous support from the party, however, the whole affair is highly damaging to the party. *4 September 2006 – Harney arrives back in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

following a holiday with her husband. She convenes a meeting of the Progressive Democrats parliamentary party for the following Thursday. *6 September 2006 – At their weekly face-to-face talks Harney informs

Taoiseach The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...

Bertie Ahern Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern (born 12 September 1951) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2008, Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997, Tánaiste a ...

that she is standing down as leader of her party. *7 September 2006 – Harney phones Progressive Democrats party chairman, John Dardis, to inform him of her decision to stand down. At 3pm Harney tells the parliamentary party that she is retiring as party leader. *8 September 2006 –

Minister of State Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In o ...

, who earlier said that an agreed candidate for leader would be best for the party, retracts his statement and now says that a leadership contest would be best for the party. Although no candidate has yet formally launched a campaign, former party member

Bobby Molloy Robert Molloy (9 July 1936 – 2 October 2016) was an Irish politician who served as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal and Minister of State to the Government from 1997 to 2002, Minister for Energy from 1989 to 1992, Minister for ...

favours Michael McDowell as the next leader. *11 September 2006 – Deadline for close of nominations for leadership, Michael McDowell returned unopposed *27 September 2006 –

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( , ; ) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).Article 15.1.2º of the Constitution of Ireland read ...

returns after its summer recess.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Progressive Democrats Leadership Election, 2006 2006 elections in the Republic of Ireland 2006 in Irish politics Progressive Democrats Political party leadership elections in the Republic of Ireland Indirect elections Progressive Democrats leadership election