THE ELECTION of Senator Ciarán Cannon as leader of the Progressive Democrats marks a significant day for the party. It represents the beginning of a make-or-break attempt to revitalise the organisation, on the basis of its performance in next year's local government elections. It will require great determination and perseverance to bring it about.
Mr Cannon's extremely narrow victory over his Seanad colleague Fiona O'Malley may reflect disagreement within the party over its role in government. Ms O'Malley's campaign received a boost from her public criticism of the unorthodox financial affairs of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and her demand for a public statement, while Mr Cannon sought support on the basis that the party would remain in government. Having spent 13 of the last 22 years in coalition with Fianna Fáil, the PDs have difficulty in maintaining distinctive policies. As its vote gradually declined, good management and strong candidates maintained an impressive national presence until last year when its Oireachtas representation fell from 12 to four and its leader and deputy leader lost their seats.
Mr Cannon has promised the organisation new policies and he intends to embark on a tour of the constituencies. Policies will be drafted in consultation with councillors and party members, representing a bottom-up, rather than a top-down approach. They will be specifically targeted at small businesses and the requirements of local communities and designed to attract support in the local elections. It is an unusual methodology. But these are exceptional circumstances.
The new leader faces a range of problems. The party has drifted aimlessly for the past 11 months. Mr Cannon lacks political authority and a national profile and will have to deliver strong media performances if he is to become the focus of public attention. He is young and clearly ambitious. But he is practically unknown outside of the organisation. His Oireachtas experience is limited to eight months in the Seanad. By painting the party's difficulties in stark terms and making seat-gains in the local elections a defining outcome, Mr Cannon has thrown down a challenge to members to become active or redundant. Should the party fail to gain seats, he said, it will confront the reality of a second electoral failure. But he is not contemplating such an outcome. In spite of that, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will anticipate picking over the spoils of a party that once challenged the basic structure of Irish politics.